Interest in archeology has become a global phenomenon particularly in developed countries of the world. This interest may be attributed to the fact that archaeology often betrays the depth of country's cultural history and displays its cultural and thinking developments. At the same time, archaeology studies are usually considered as one of the major sources for writing history on empirical evidence. In addition, archaeological material remains and monuments represent one of the sources for a country's economic development. Due to the geographical location of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the center of the ancient world and its being a meeting point for trade routes and ancient caravans, and the land of revelation of the eternal Islamic Mission, archaeological studies in the Kingdom have been actively supported by the authorities who attach particular importance to the heritage of the country. This active support led to the establishment of the Department of Archaeology in King Saud University. It ought to be mentioned here that the Department is the only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the oldest Department in the Gulf dealing with archaeological and heritage studies. It awards BA, MA and Ph. D in archaeology. The Department staff has expertise in museum studies, and the archaeology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Near East, from prehistoric times to the Islamic period.

King Saud University strongly believes in the importance of recovering ancient cultures and history of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, subsequent to the formation in 1966, of a society of history and archaeology and founding of a Museum in the College of Arts in 1967, a series of seasons of excavations at al-Fau were begun in 1970. In 1978 the Department of Archaeology and Museology was founded after being a small unit at the Department of History. In support of the excavations and for students training and benefit, are some small units within the Department. These are: (a) the conservation laboratory (b) Survey unit (c) Drawing unit (d) Registration unit (e) Photography unit (f) Ceramics unit and (g) Computer station areas. The prime objectives of the Department archaeological museum are :(1) to familiarize archaeology students with archaeological finds relevant to their theoretical and practical studies, (2) illustrate the archaeology and history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (3) introduce the contributions made by the King Saud University in the field of archaeology, (4) provide the appropriate atmosphere for children, adults and researchers to understand the country’s antiquities and objects of heritage. In the short years of its age, the Department launched extensive excavations at the two sites of al-Fau and al-Rabadhah concurrently. The excavations revealed the past and portraits of two prosperous periods of the History of Arabia. The work has started on the pre-Islamic site, Qaryat, now known as al-Fau, in 1969 aiming to train students of ancient and classical archaeology. A decade later (1979) work was launched at the Islamic site of al-Rabadhah, to train students of Islamic archaeology. In 2004 the Department shifted its archaeological excavation activities to al-Ula region, to excavate al-Khuraybah (Dadan) pre-Islamic site and al-Mabbiyat (Qarh) Islamic site. The objectives are to train B. A. students and recover material on the history and civilization of the Kingdom. The archaeology students are trained annually in a 12 credit-hours course, in methods and techniques of excavations. On theoretical side, the course includes lectures on surveying, excavation of sites and registration of archaeological finds. On the practical side, it involves a season of fieldwork in which the student is taught how to apply his theoretical knowledge. In addition the students are trained in 3 credit-hours course, in photography, surveying and drawing, and conservation. The results of more than twenty years of excavations at the two sites of al-Fau and al-Rabadhah have necessitated the rewriting of the ancient history and archaeology of pre-Islamic and Islamic Arabia.

The main objectives of the Department are as follow:
1- Prepare qualified graduates to serve in private and public sectors in archaeology and heritage management.
2- Provide qualified graduates to work in archaeological and heritage Museums.
3- Provide efficient graduates to conduct archaeological surveys and excavations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The neighboring countries.
4- Prepare qualified graduates to serve in related local and international institutes and organizations.
5- Prepare highly qualified students to pursue their graduate studies in archaeology and heritage management.
6- Provide qualified graduates to work in community service and continuous education by arranging training courses and scientific conferences and providing consultancy services.