Forensic experts to examine Makkah bones

Construction workers in the Grand Mosque found skeletal remains buried under the Ottoman hallway.

The workers were executing the third stage of the Holy Mosque expansion project when they found the bones. Photos of the discovery were shared on social media websites with users divided on whether the bones belonged to humans or animals.

The photos showed six security officers from the location digging a three-meter-deep hole to check the source of the bones and what else could be unearthed.

Archeologist Sameer Barqah said that one of the workers of the expansion project found the Ottoman hallway near the right corner of King Abdulaziz Gate. He informed a security officer who was passing by and that is where the bones were later discovered.

“They immediately secured the area and heads of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and Saudi Binladin Group attended to the scene. Forensics experts were involved and security officers were trying to control the situation. I sent the pictures to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to send a group of researchers to investigate the discovery,” said Barqah.

The bones were found on Mount Safa which stands at the eastern front of the mosque. According to Umm Al-Qura history professor, Fawzi Saati, this mountain is said to be the first mountain on Earth. At its bottom is a cave called Al-Kanz (“the treasure”).

According to Mohammad Bin Ahmad Al-Nahrawi’s book, there is where Adam, Eve and their son Seth were buried.

Forensic experts in Makkah will begin examination of the bones found at the Grand Mosque expansion project site to determine whether they are human or animal remains.

If they are found to be human, the matter will be forwarded to the General Court and a committee will be formed to study the issue.

After the report is filed, Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh will review the matter.

The Grand Mufti is the highest official of religious law in Saudi Arabia.

Abdul Salam bin Sulaiman Mashat, the holy city's undersecretary for services, said the municipality has not received any information about the discovery of a cemetery inside the Grand Mosque.

Such a rumour has been doing the rounds across social media sites for some time, he added.

Saleh bin Saad Al-Luhaidan, professor of criminal justice and member of the Union of Arab Historians, argued that the remains could be human bodies washed away by floods decades or centuries ago.

He dismissed the idea of organised clusters of graves in the area.

Sunday 21 December 2014

http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/forensic-experts-to-examine-makkah-bones-1942699.html

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