Located amidst sand dunes in a remote area of northeastern Qatar, Al Jassasiya is the largest petroglyph site in this Middle Eastern country.
Some of the drawings resemble sunbathing reptiles, while others evoke the game of “Ô ăn quan” (a traditional Vietnamese board game). There are also images whose meanings remain a mystery, even to experts.
A long row of depressions on the rock at Al Jassasiya. (Photo: CNN).
For centuries, the coastal inhabitants of Qatar have used the limestone platform as a “canvas” to create rock art—ranging from abstract images to representations of their surrounding environment, according to CNN.
Archaeologists have discovered around 900 “pieces” at Al Jassasiya. Most of these consist of carved depressions arranged in various shapes—ranging from arrows and flowers to more complex forms like boats.
“While rock art is not uncommon on the Arabian Peninsula, some of the carvings at Al Jassasiya are unique and cannot be found anywhere else,” said Ferhan Sakal, head of the archaeological excavation and site management department at the Qatar National Museum.
“The carvings demonstrate the creativity and high level of observational skills of the artists who created them,” Mr. Sakal added. “And there is also abstract thinking involved—given that they could not view the boats from above.”
Mysterious Drawings
Across Qatar, there are a total of 12 archaeological rock art sites, most of which are located along the coast.
Situated about an hour’s drive from the capital Doha, Al Jassasiya was discovered in 1957. More than 15 years later, a team of Danish archaeologists came to the site to meticulously study and catalog each rock drawing.
Among the various shapes identified, more than a third are depressions of differing shapes and sizes, forming distinct patterns. One of the most prominent features is two rows of seven parallel depressions. Some believe this to be a “playing field” for a game similar to Ô ăn quan.
The round depressions on the rock are characteristic of Al Jassasiya. (Photo: CNN).
However, this assumption is met with skepticism by others. They point out that some depressions at Al Jassasiya are too small to hold enough stones, while others are situated on slopes, making them unsuitable for play.
Other theories suggest they may have been used for divination, sorting and storing pearls, or for calculating time and tidal movements.
“It is difficult to answer,” Mr. Sakal remarked about the purpose of the rock paintings. “We have no direct clues regarding the patterns at Al Jassasiya. In my view, they could have ritual significance and function.”
This expert also noted that it is challenging to accurately determine the timeline of the rock paintings’ creation.
“Estimates of their age vary, ranging from the Neolithic period to the Islamic era,” he said. “Personally, I believe that not all the paintings were created at the same time.”
A previous study on nine paintings suggested they are only a few hundred years old. However, scientists agree that further research is necessary for precise determination.
A Window to the Past
While the significance and age of the artworks are not yet accurately defined, scientists generally agree that the most notable paintings at Al Jassasiya depict boats. They provide information about the types of vessels used by ancient people for fishing and pearl diving.
When viewed from above, most of the boat drawings on the rock are fish-shaped with pointed tails and paddles arranged in rows, equipped with sharp metallic implements. Numerous details are also depicted—such as the locations for mast attachments and seats for rowers.
The depiction of boats at Al Jassasiya resembles fish. (Photo: Qatar Museums).
In some paintings, anchors are also depicted. Two types of anchors appear: the traditional Arab type (made of stone, triangular in shape, with two holes) and the European type (made of metal, which began to be used in the region about 700 years ago).
The image of many boats is also recognized as those involved in pearl diving activities. Experts point out that the proportion of boat paintings at Al Jassasiya is significantly higher than at other coastal sites in Qatar.
“Boats played an important role in the beliefs of ancient people. They viewed them as a means of transition from this world to the next,” authors Frances Gillespie and Faisal Abdulla Al-Naimi wrote in their book “Hidden in the Sands: Exploring Qatar’s Past.”
“Both the Babylonians and ancient Egyptians believed that the dead traveled to the afterlife by boat. Greek mythology mentions the ferryman Charon who transported the souls of the dead across the Styx River to the underworld,” the authors wrote. “The boat carvings represent a folk memory from prehistoric times.”
