The Archaeology of Civilizations in the Kingdom: Antiquities, Inscriptions, and Rock Art
Knowledge Affairs – Special
Modern archaeological studies are showing considerable interest in the Kingdom’s extensive cultural and historical horizons. Its land is home to a diverse range of civilizations and a very ancient history that researchers estimate to date back between 35,000 and 250,000 years, based on discoveries published several years ago. These included the discovery of the Al-Naseem site, considered the oldest documented Acheulean site to date in Saudi Arabia. At the regional level, the site reveals types of assemblages of stone tools used by humans during the Middle Pleistocene. They are believed to indicate repeated human returns to the Arabian Peninsula when it contained grasslands, rivers, and abundant water sources. The site contains a deep basin in the center of which sediments were found containing archaeological materials from the Lower Stone Age. Approximately 354 stone axes and various stone flakes were collected. Surveys revealed a strong association between the archaeological materials and the dried lake.
Further confirming the ancient cultural diversity that encompasses multiple eras, the Acheulean stone tools at the Al-Naseem site were found to date to the late Middle Pleistocene, most likely corresponding to Marine Isotope Stage 9, when the ice melted and lakes formed in the Nefud Desert.
The Heritage Commission and the archaeological authorities had also announced, during the final quarter of 2020, a highly significant archaeological discovery involving human, elephant, camel, and carnivore footprints around an ancient dried lake on the outskirts of the Tabuk region. The site dates back more than 120,000 years and represents the first scientific evidence of the oldest human and animal footprints discovered on the Arabian Peninsula.
So, what is the value of these continuous archaeological studies in the Kingdom?
There are continuous archaeological discoveries that are reconstructing the human story on Earth and its transformations across different eras. They also reveal the various types of sandy, rocky, and stony soils distributed across plains and plateaus. The term archaeology refers to the study of ancient remains and arts. It is derived from a Greek term meaning “knowledge of the ancient” or “the study of ancient documents and remains.” It is the scientific study of the remains of past human civilizations and the lives of peoples. It aims to uncover remnants of the past, such as buildings, artworks, tools, pottery, and bones, in order to understand the development of human life and activity. It relies on surveying, excavation, and the analysis of material evidence.
A Deep Heritage:
Saudi archaeology—the study of archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—is witnessing an unprecedented renaissance aimed at highlighting the deep historical and cultural heritage preserved within the Arabian Peninsula. Early signs of official interest in archaeology appeared in 1951, when King Abdulaziz – may Allah have mercy on him – approved scientific survey teams working in central and southern Arabia. Specialized sectors and authorities were subsequently established, including the Heritage Commission, to regulate excavation activities and protect archaeological sites in accordance with advanced archaeological regulations.
Among the Kingdom’s most prominent archaeological sites is Al-Hijr (Hegra/Mada’in Salih), the first Saudi site to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is distinguished by its precisely carved Nabataean rock façades. There are also AlUla, Khaybar, Tayma, and Fayd, which were major centers of civilization where unprecedented archaeological discoveries have helped fill important historical gaps and revealed ancient trade networks. There is also Qaryat al-Faw, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kinda south of Riyadh, where excavations have yielded unique archaeological artifacts such as the “Lady of Al-Faw,” as well as the Hulayt Archaeological Site in the Riyadh region.
Diverse Discoveries:
Among the recent discoveries in the archaeological and cultural field in the Kingdom is the Dhu al-Uyun Monument, a commemorative stone from Tayma dating to the fifth century BC. There have also been spatial surveys of the geography of the Kingdom, with initiatives launched to document sites associated with the poets of the Mu‘allaqat and the pre-Islamic era, linking people to their geographical and cultural history. It is well known that heritage in the Kingdom is divided into two main types: tangible heritage and intangible heritage. It is characterized by great diversity according to the different regions of the Kingdom. The archaeological remains that have been discovered or are still being uncovered constitute a distinctive aspect of this heritage due to its profound historical and chronological depth.
Rock art in the Kingdom also constitutes an important archaeological dimension because of its extensive historical and cultural significance. Examples include the Sibmah bi al-Muthallath inscription (23 AH / 643 AD), considered the oldest known dated Islamic inscription. The inscription was discovered during archaeological survey work by the Japanese mission in 2002, and in 2022 the Heritage Commission redocumented it.
There is also the Zuhayr inscription (24 AH / 644 AD), discovered in 1999 during fieldwork in the area between AlUla and Al-Hijr. The inscription was first published in 2003 and is located in AlUla Governorate in the Madinah Region. Its text reads: “In the name of God, I am Zuhayr. I wrote [this] when Umar died, the year twenty-four.” This inscription was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2003.
In addition, there are the inscriptions of Yazid ibn Abdullah al-Sululi in the Najran region, the Abu Bakr inscription in the Tabuk region, and an inscription mentioning Umar ibn al-Khattab in Al-Suwayriqiyah in the Madinah Region, dating to before 23 AH / 643 AD and representing one of the oldest known Islamic inscriptions. There are also other Islamic inscriptions that provide tangible and material evidence of the beginnings of the Islamic eras.
Among the examples of rock art is a depiction at Jabal Umm Sinman in Jubbah, in the Hail region. This rock façade depicts a life-sized human figure wearing a crown and belt, in a scene believed to represent the investiture of a leader or a person of high status within society. The depiction is dated to approximately 6,000–7,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period, and is considered one of the most prominent and famous examples of rock art in Jubbah.
The Saudi Archaeological Association seeks to present diverse archaeological discoveries, while the Saudi Heritage Commission, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, has recently been leading exploratory efforts to excavate vast areas that received insufficient attention during previous decades. These efforts have resulted in a number of discoveries in recent months, the latest of which was published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports under the title “Human Dispersal in the Acheulean in the Nefud Desert of Northern Saudi Arabia.”
These archaeological and scientific discoveries reveal ancient civilizational roots spanning the various eras of human history. The continuous archaeological discoveries are creating a field of knowledge and research that highlights the geographical and chronological significance of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Footnotes
· https://www.archaeological-assoc.org.sa/en/web/antiquities/who-are-we-
