Every year, thousands of traders and merchants once flocked to Souq Habasha (Abyssian Market), one of the most important markets in the pre-Islamic and early Islamic era. Located on the southern bank of Wadi Qanuna in the Makkah region, this bustling marketplace was a hub of commercial activity, drawing in traders from far and wide. But it disappeared right off the map for hundreds of years.

Several attempts have been made in the past 40 years to discover the site, however, but none have been able to pinpoint its exact location.

According to Arab News, a Saudi team of researchers and historians, in cooperation with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, the Ministry of Culture, and its Heritage Commission, have finally discovered its exact location.

شكرا لدارة الملك عبدالعزيز وهيئة التراث ووزارة الثقافة على هذا العمل والجهد الذي اثمر عن تحديد موقع سوق حباشة في
منطقة #مكة المكرمة – محافظة #القنفذة – مركز خميس حرب https://t.co/Cn4ggMAlHz pic.twitter.com/hZ9uvltjRM

— القنفذة (غادة الساحل الغربي) (@fact_ey) February 7, 2023

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The eight-day-long market, which traditionally starts on the first day of Rajab in the Islamic calendar, is believed to be one of the largest in the Tihamah region.

Historians believe that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also visited this place.

This ancient souq might as well be revived, as a similar market near Taif called Souq Okaz has been in recent years.

#فيديو الدارة |📺
بعد إجراء دراسات بحثية وميدانية وآثارية معمقة بالتعاون بين #دارة_الملك_عبدالعزيز و #وزارة_الثقافة وهيئة التراث @MOCHeritage ، تمكن فريق بحثي متخصص من تحديد موقع سوق حباشة التاريخي؛ أحد أهم أسواق العرب في الجاهلية وصدر الإسلام. وهذه هي قصة ذلك العمل. pic.twitter.com/fQtOcQEbNg

— دارة الملك عبدالعزيز (@Darahfoundation) February 5, 2023