Extending along the coastline of northwest Qatar for some 2.5 km, Al Ruwaida was inhabited from about the 16th through the 18th centuries. The settlement incorporated a large, central fort, one mosque (from two phases), a boatyard, and a warehouse featuring madabis (date presses). In 2013, archaeologists working under the sponsorship of Qatar Museums discovered a sculpted plaque, approximately 5 cm in length and carved from bone, representing a complete oryx. A tie on the back would allow it to be used as a brooch or as a furniture fitting. The carving has been estimated to have been made about 300 years ago. Today, this antelope is a protected species in Qatar.