Fire forts or lava fields, known in the Kingdom as harrat, are archaeological sites that reveal the past.
The lava fields contain features from the civilizational development of past peoples, giving hints of behaviors, culture, customs and traditions.
The black lava fields in the Kingdom, especially north of Taif — Hafir Kishb, Turbah, Al-Khurma, and Al-Muwayh — are stone volcanic structures that have transformed into natural oasis museums due to weathering.
Dr. Hammad Al-Ruwaili, a professor of history and archaeology, said that the history of volcanoes in the Kingdom dates back about 30 million years.
They formed in two phases. The first phase coincided with the basaltic lava flows and the opening of the Red Sea, and the second phase began with volcanic activity in the Arabian Peninsula about 10 million years ago,” he added.
The most prominent volcanic sites include Hafir Kishb and Al-Malsa volcano on the northern and southern edges of Harrat Rahat in the southeast of Madinah.
Harrat Rahat is the largest volcano by area, followed by Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Al-Harrah, Harrat Nawasif and Harrat Hafir Kishb, which contains the Wahbah Crater, the deepest volcanic crater in the Kingdom with a diameter of 2 km and a depth of more than 220 meters. The site is a popular destination for locals and attracts tourists from around the world.
In Arabic, Harrat refers to “a land with black stones that seem to have been burned by fire.” The lava fields are named after the intense heat of rocks.
Al-Ruwaili said that volcanoes are classified into several types, including domed, scoria, shield and cratered.
He mentioned that Hafir Kishb gets its name from Mount Kishb, which is situated approximately 260 km northeast of Taif Governorate. This prominent black mountain can be seen to the right of travelers on the Riyadh Road, just past Al-Muwayh. The region primarily consists of scattered black rocks mixed with sandy patches called Al-Qee’an.
Other notable areas in the vicinity include Dughaybjah, Khawarah, Hafar, Al-Mashubah, Qia, Mraan, and Al-Muwayh. Additionally, Al-Ruwaili noted that east of Hafir Kishb is a rugged harrat, which presents a challenging terrain to navigate.
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