The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and King Saud University (KSU) signed an agreement for cooperation in archaeological excavation, preservation projects and surveys at a number of archaeological sites like Al-Khoraiba, Al-Mabyat and Harat Ewaired in the Al-Ula municipality.

The agreement was signed here Thursday by Ali bin Ibrahim, vice president of the SCTA for antiquities and museums, and Badran bin Abdul Rahman, KSU chancellor, an SCTA official said Friday.

He said the agreement comes within the framework of the enhancement of mutual partnership between the two organizations, in both public and private sectors, which include universities of which KSU is in the forefront.

Speaking on the occasion, the SCTA vice president commended the efforts of KSU in the development of scientific research in the field of antiquities and heritage. He also lauded its contribution toward the quantum jump in archaeological discoveries that establish the deep-rooted history and culture of the Kingdom through the ages.

According to the agreement, the KSU will now undertake excavation works at Al-Khoraiba and Al-Mabyat archaeological sites, in addition to undertaking survey works in Harat Ewaired in the Al-Ula municipality over the next five years.

The agreement also provides that the KSU team for these sites should include some students in order to train them on excavation and survey works.

Besides, the KSU should analyze and restore discovered items in accordance with the latest applied methods of preservation of archaeological material, the SCTA ofifcial said.

Earlier, the two organizations of national prestige had signed an agreement of cooperation in November 2013 to rehabilitate the Al Fau archaeological site.