The city of Hajar and its seasonal market: their location relative to the city of Riyadh today
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Abstract
This study is an attempt to identify the location of the city of Ḥajr and its seasonal market within contemporary Riyadh. Despite Ḥajr being one of the most significant ancient cities in the Arabian Peninsula, scholars have disagreed on its precise location. Some have placed it in the Al-Dira neighborhood, which is the center of present-day Riyadh, while others have located it in the Al-Kharab (Al-Jaradiyah) area, southwest of Asir Street. A third scholar posits that its location is not within Riyadh at all, but rather in the Al-Kharj governorate. This study seeks to discuss these conclusions based on the evidence provided by the scholars regarding the location of Ḥajr and its seasonal market, and it aims to establish this location using new historical, geographical, and archaeological evidence that has not been addressed in previous studies.