There are numerous references to the place in the
medieval Arabic sources. Excavation began in 1985. For example, al Muqad-dasi described Qurh as
the largest town in the hijaz ...after Mecca, as well as the most flourishing and populous.
al-Istakhri says that
among the towns of the hijaz, Wadi al Qura is second only to al Yamama in size and production. while
Yaqut says it was a very fertile valley
covered in villages from end to end, and indeed the modern name of the wadi still means
valley of villages.
Al-Muqaddasi adds it had a very diverse population.
Al-Muqaddasi also says
palm trees skirt [Qurh]... it is possessed of very cheap dates, and excellent and copious springs of water of which
Yakut numbers 80 springs. There is also evidence of a
quanat 2.5 meters below the surface. == References ==