Al-Lith's Shell Mounds, Ancient Fish Traps Preserve Maritime Heritage Along Red Sea Coast

   Jeddah, September 13, 2026, SPA -- Along the shore of Al-Shawaq center, near Al-Sirrain Port south of Al-Lith Governorate, scattered shell mounds and ancient stone fish traps stand as physical evidence of human connection to the Red Sea, reflecting centuries of fishing, mollusk collecting, and coastal resource utilization.
   Director of Underwater Heritage at the Heritage Commission Dr. Majed Alanazi noted that the Kingdom's geographic position among ancient civilizations conferred historical significance upon its coasts, adding that humans settled the Arabian Peninsula over a million years ago and left behind shell mounds, fish traps, and shipwrecks.
   He also highlighted the Heritage Commission's efforts in surveying underwater cultural heritage sites along the Kingdom's coasts, most notably the excavation of the Umluj shipwreck.
   The shell mounds and fish traps in Al-Shawaq derive additional significance from their proximity to the Port of Al-Sirrain, a hub for maritime trade and pilgrim caravans on the Red Sea coast.
   -- SPA