The ancient village of al-Dira', behind the mosque of Omar bin al-Khattab and the Mârid Castle. A vast programme of restoration of this village is being carried out by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities for promoting tourism in D˚mat al-Jand

A narrow gate in the ancient western enclosure, excavated in 2013 by the Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project, Th. Sagory).

Mârid Castle stands on an outcrop, in the historical area, dominating the valley beneath. In all likelihood this stood on the ancient acropolis of the oasis (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project, Th. Sagory).

The Historical area: M‚rid Castle, Omar Mosque and trench A excavations (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project, Th. Sagory).

Mârid Castle, Omar Mosque and trench A excavations in the historical area (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project, Th. Sagory).

Trench A in the historical area, at the base of Qasr Mârid (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project, Th. Sagory).

The Historical area: Mârid Castle stands on an outcrop dominating the valley beneath. In all likelihood this stood on the ancient acropolis of the oasis (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project; Th. Sagory).

Square building in sounding 12 in the western enclosure area (sector C). The sounding was implemented in an area which suffered from many destructions, as seen on the picture (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project; Th. Sagory).

The ancient enclosure wall located in the western sector of the oasis. This monumental enclosure, more than 2.5 km long, needs further study and deserves an important protection and restoration project, now in preparation (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeolog

A large building excavated in the western enclosure area (sector C), sounding 6 (©Saudi-Italian French Archaeological Project, Th. Sagory).