Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings

Al Jassasiya is the largest rock carving site in Qatar, some nine hundred petroglyphs cut into a low limestone outcrop near the northeastern coast. Most are rows of small cup marks arranged in pairs, which are usually read as boards for the game mancala, and among them are outlines of boats seen from above, including detail of oars and fittings, along with stars, fish and marks nobody has explained.

What you actually see

• The cup mark rows - paired hollows generally read as mancala boards.
• The boats from above - vessels drawn in plan with oars and fittings shown.
• The scale - around nine hundred carvings across the outcrop.
• The limestone shelf - the low rock the whole site is cut into.

When to go

November to March is the comfortable season. Low sun in early morning or late afternoon shows the carvings best. Midday flattens them out of sight.

Honest expectations

The carvings are shallow and vanish in midday light, so timing matters. There is no interpretation and no facilities at the site. The track in is rough and unmarked.

Nearby

Fuwairit is north, and Al Khor is south.