Al Jassasiya Rock Art Site

Overview

Al Jassasiya is a fenced rock-art site on low limestone hills about 60 km north of Doha, near Fuwairit. It holds 874 catalogued carvings, or petroglyphs, the most of any site in Qatar. Please note: as of September 2026, Qatar Museums lists Al Jassasiya as temporarily closed until further notice. Check the official website before you make the drive.

When it is open, the site is free and makes a short, unusual stop on a trip to the north. Look for rows and rosettes of cup marks, star shapes, fish, birds and, most striking of all, dhow boats seen from above and from the side. The carvings are shallow and hard to spot in flat midday light, so early morning or late afternoon works best.

History and background

The carvings were first recorded by Danish archaeologists working in Qatar; sources give the discovery as 1957 or 1961. In 1974 a detailed survey by Hans Kapel documented around 900 carvings at some 580 spots along the ridge. Qatar Museums now counts 874 catalogued figures and compositions.

Most of the carvings are cup marks, small round hollows set in rows, rosettes and stars. Some may have been boards for traditional games such as Al Haloosa, a local form of mancala. Others show fish, turtles, ostriches and footprints. The boat carvings are unusual for the region: more than 140 show dhows, some of them the pearling vessels once common on this coast.

Their age is debated. Early researchers suggested the Neolithic period, and others proposed dates between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD. A 2012 study found the samples tested were less than 300 years old, and Qatar Museums now says they were probably carved within the last 250 years.

What to see at Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings

1. Dhow carvings

   The site's most famous images are dhows, shown from above and in side view. Some show the oars and hull shapes of traditional pearling boats, a direct link to Qatar's seafaring past.

2. Cup marks and rosettes

   Hundreds of small round hollows are cut into the rock in lines, circles, rosettes and star patterns. Some may have been used for board games, others perhaps for sorting pearls.

3. Animal and fish figures

   Look for carved fish, turtles, ostriches and birds among the geometric shapes. They are shallow, so move around and let the low sun pick out their outlines.

4. The limestone ridge

   The carvings are spread along a low ridge that once overlooked the sea. Walking along it gives wide views over the desert and a sense of why people chose this spot.

5. Photography in low light

   Early morning and late afternoon sun casts shadows into the grooves and makes the carvings far easier to see and photograph than at midday. Plan your arrival around it.

How to get to Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings

Tips for your visit

• Check the Qatar Museums website first; the site is listed as temporarily closed as of September 2026.
• Visit early or late in the day, when shadows make the carvings visible.
• There is no shade or café on site. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
• Wear sturdy shoes for rocky ground.
• Do not touch, chalk, wet or walk on the carvings.
• Combine with Al Thakira Mangroves or Purple Island for a day in the north.
• On-site signs are limited, so read up before you go.

Facilities

Frequently asked questions