Tarout Castle (), also known as Tarut Palace, Tarut Fort, Portuguese Fort, is an archaeological site in Qatif, Saudi Arabia. It is situated on a hill in the center of Tarut Island, located southwest of Deira, in the eastern part of Qatif Governorate, Saudi Arabia. The hill, known as Tall Tawt, is estimated to be 5,000 years old. The castle itself is believed to date back to the time of the Uyuni state and was later used as a Portuguese defensive point. (3-2011). "Tarut Castle". Oasis Magazine. P. 60. Archived from the on October 16, 2017.Tarut. A treasure that holds the secrets of five thousand years: Okaz newspaper Archived August 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.
The Portuguese renovated the castle in the 16th century, specifically on 29 March 1544 CE (1 Jumada al-Awwal 951 AH), during their occupation of the Persian Gulf. The fort was constructed on the remains of a temple dedicated to the Phoenician goddess Astarte or Inanna, from whom the name "Tarut Island" is derived. The ruins and foundations of the original temple remain visible beneath the castle.Droura, Ali Ibrahim (2001). History of the Portuguese occupation of Qatif 1521-1572. Abu Dhabi: Cultural Center.Gurshun, Zakaria (2005). The Ottomans and the House of Saud in the Ottoman Archives (1745-1914). Arabic House of Encyclopedias. Pp. 260. Archived from the original on 2020-03-16.
Several statues and pottery pieces dating back to earlier periods have been discovered within Tarut Castle, including artifacts from the Sumer era, the Fatimid Caliphate, and the Dilmun civilization. However, the castle is currently facing several challenges, the structural cracking of its towers, which poses a risk of collapse. Additionally, the drying up of Ain al-Awda, a spring located within the castle, has been attributed to continuous oil extraction in the area. The castle remains closed to the public and is not officially open for visitors or tourists."Chapter Three: Monuments and Historic Sites" Chapter Two: Pre-Islamic Monuments". saudiency.net. Encyclopedia of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Accessed on 2017-01-19.
Nevertheless, Tarut Castle continues to attract interest from foreign researchers and expeditions, including the Danish archaeological expedition and the renowned researcher Jeffrey Beebe.Today, newspaper. "Today: 'Ain al-Awda' is a tourist attraction facing extinction in Tarut". www.alyaum.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Accessed on 2017-01-19.
Etymology
The castle is often referred to as the Portuguese Fort due to its association with Portuguese conquerors, but it is also known as Tarut Castle, named after the site on which it was constructed. The name "Tarut" is derived from the Sumerian goddess Inanna, whose earliest appearances date back more than 5,000 years, recorded in cuneiform inscriptions in Sumer, southern Iraq. Inanna was symbolized by the octagram, which was used to represent the planet Venus. Over time, her worship spread from the Sumerians to the Akkadians, who called her Ishtar, and later to the peoples of southern Arabia, who referred to her as Athar or Attar. The Canaanites and Hebrews knew her as Ashra or Astarte."Ishtar... Goddess of Femininity and Life - Dr. Ali Al-Qasimi". www.mesopot.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Accessed 2016-11-04.
The exact reason for the name Tarut is unclear. It may be linked to the construction of a temple dedicated to Ishtar on the site or because the region was historically known as Tarut, reflecting a strong connection between the environment and the goddess during that time. The ancient inhabitants of the island believed that the goddess Ishtar played a role in agriculture and water supply. Given the island's fertility and abundance of water, these beliefs likely shaped their view of Ishtar. www.almahatta.net. Archived from the on 2018-10-14. Accessed 2016-11-04.
According to legend, the people of ancient Tarut envisioned the goddess as a beautiful young woman who wandered gracefully through the palm groves. As she moved, springs of water would flow behind her, nurturing the land and ensuring bountiful crops. For them, Ishtar was the goddess of fertility, love, and sex. Supporting this belief is the discovery of a pure gold statue representing Ishtarot in one of the island's groves, symbolizing the goddess's importance to the island's ancient culture.Kamel, Magdy (2009). Gilgamesh / The Shahnameh - Timeless Epics and Legends Part II. Damascus - Cairo: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arabi. Pp. 154. ISBN:977-376-418-4. Archived from the on 2019-04-11.Al-Musallam, Mohammed Saeed (2002). Oasis on the Banks of the Gulf (Third Edition). Dammam: Al-Ridha Press. P. 49.
Geography
Tarut Castle is located northwest of the Deira neighborhood on Tarut Hill, in the center of Tarut Island, within the Qatif Governorate in eastern Saudi Arabia. The castle's strategic position was intended to serve as an impregnable fortress, offering protection to the Deira neighborhood in the event of external threats or attacks.Eastern Province " Title III: Monuments and Historical Sites - Encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Archived October 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
Archaeology
Archaeological excavations at Tarut Hill indicate that settlement began as early as the Ubaid period in the fifth millennium BC and continued until the third millennium BC, making it one of the oldest inhabited sites in the Arabian Peninsula. The limited size of the hill and the presence of a prominent fortress suggest that Tarut was more than just a village. Field surveys have shown that the hill is composed of a mixture of clay, dust, and large limestone fragments. Beneath the foundations of the citadel, evidence of ancient structures from the third millennium BC has been uncovered, including monolithic and polished stone pieces, believed to be remnants of an ancient building or multiple structures.Eastern Province " Title III: Monuments and Historical Sites - Encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia Easter n Province Archived October 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
The archaeological findings are distributed across four distinct historical periods, representing different stages of settlement on the site. The oldest remains date back to the second Ubaid period (4300–4000 BC), with continuous habitation until the third millennium BC, a time marked by the rise of the Dilmun civilization during the late Barbar period. The historical span of the castle's existence is therefore estimated to range between 4300 BC and 500 BC.
The King Abdulaziz Darat holds numerous artifacts unearthed from the Tarut Fort archaeological site, including a golden statue of Ashtarot, discovered in one of the palm groves on Tarut Island. A wide range of items has been excavated in Tarut, such as statues, copper and pottery vessels, and traditional weapons. Notably, a bowl from the Indus Valley civilization, currently exhibited at the National Museum of Riyadh. The most recent discovery is an ancient war cannon, now displayed at the Dammam Regional Museum.Zarins, Joris et al, Report on the South Dhahran excavation, Ruins, p. 8, 32.Eastern Province " Part II Historical Development - Encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Archived December 01, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.Today, newspaper. "Today: In the company of Ashtaroth". www.alyaum.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-26. Accessed on 2017-01-19.Al-Saffar, Jafar; Sultan, Samah (2009/04/04). "Tarut Island : One of the oldest cities in history, estimated to be 5,000 years old - Qatif Oasis". www.qatifoasis.com. Al-Youm newspaper. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Accessed on 2017-01-19."Tarut Island...seven thousand years of human history". scth.gov.sa (bar-sa). General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
One of the most important discoveries is a limestone statue found beneath the foundations of Tarut Castle. The statue, which bears characteristics of Sumerian civilization art, depicts a standing, bare-bodied man, measuring 94 cm in height, with his hands crossed in a reverential posture. Three belt-like symbols are carved around the waist. The statue is dated to the Dawn of the Second or Third Dynasties, in the middle of the third millennium BC. It is speculated that the statue may have been a gift from a Mesopotamian to a prominent figure in the Dilmun civilization, symbolizing friendship and goodwill.
In the lower layers of the Tarut Castle mound, archaeologists made a significant discovery: large pottery vessels with triangular bodies and rims, characteristic of the Jemdet Nasr civilization (3100–2900 BC) from the Mesopotamian Valley. Additionally, orange-yellow pottery from the Dawn of the Dynasties period (2900–2350 BC) was unearthed beneath the castle's foundations."Tarut Island is the land of civilizations". www.qatifoasis.com. Qatif Oasis. 2004/11/17. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Accessed on 2017-01-19.
Pottery from the third millennium BC, known as Dilmun pottery, has also been confirmed through field surveys and excavations at Qal'at Tarut Hill. The Dilmun pottery found in the Eastern Province shows a wide variety of forms, including cylindrical, bell-shaped, and ribbed jars with deep, semi-straight sides, as well as smaller vessels such as curved-sided plates and cups. These artifacts highlight the diversity and craftsmanship of the region's ancient civilizations.Masry. Prehistory in Northeastern Arabia (بالإنجليزية). Routledge. p. 143. ISBN:9781317848059. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02.
General design
Tarut Castle consists of four towers, constructed to emulate the natural topography of the surrounding area. This architectural approach closely resembles the Portuguese construction methods seen in irregularly shaped Omani castles. The courtyard of the castle is nearly oval, bordering on rectangular, with a deep well at its center. It is surrounded by a thick wall made from mud, plaster, bedding stones, and sticky, unburned mud mortar. The castle's design is often compared to the shape of a crab, with walls ranging in thickness from 1.5 to 2.5 meters and reaching a height of 9 meters.Al-Sahbani, Saif (November 17, 2014). "Tarut Castle". Okaz. Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Accessed on 2017-01-19.
The castle originally featured eleven tall towers connected by extended bridges, which were used as secret passages during wartime. However, only three of these towers remain today. In its earlier years, Tarut Castle served as a fortification for soldiers and as a storage site for ammunition. It also housed a headquarters or office for the governor, as well as a central water well, which was likely used for storing supplies during sieges. Soldiers stationed at the castle were provided with water and dates.Today, newspaper. "Today : Tarot : Popular cafe attracts visitors and locals". www.alyaum.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Accessed on 2017-01-19.
In times of danger, the soldiers used a signaling system by lighting fires within the castle. During the day the smoke would signal imminent danger, and at night the flames would serve as a warning.Today, newspaper. "Today : Cracks hit the 'towers' of Tarut Castle, erasing 1000 years of 'heritage'". www.alyaum.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Accessed on 2017-01-19.
Towers
It is noteworthy that the northwestern and southwestern towers are the only two towers consistently visible in all historical photographs of Tarut Castle. In contrast, the two eastern towers do not appear in all older images. The southeastern tower was bombed by forces of the First Saudi State around 1791 AD and remained partially standing until 1916 AD, when it collapsed onto a nearby residence. It was later restored in 1984 AD by the Ministry of Archeology.