Yadhghat

The archaeological site of Yadhghat, located near the village of Yadhghat in Yemen, is a significant medieval pottery production center active from approximately 980 to 1150 CE. Situated on the edge of the Wadi Jerbah valley, the site comprises remnants of about a dozen buildings, including a mosque with a mihrab, suggesting a once-thriving settlement. The pottery produced here was handmade, unglazed redware, decorated with incisions and paint sourced from local red clay. Yadhghat's pottery was distributed widely, reaching other regional sites and seaports, indicating its importance in medieval trade networks. The site's decline and eventual abandonment are linked to geopolitical shifts, possibly involving Egyptian expansion into the region. Despite its arid present condition, Yadhghat offers valuable insights into medieval craftsmanship and interregional trade.