New Delhi: A team of archaeologists from France and Saudi Arabia is excavating five sites in the arid desert and mountains of AlUla to find the remains of the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan that flourished thousands of years ago.
“This is a project that really tries to unravel the secrets of (these) civilizations,” a Reuters report quoted archaeologist Abdulrahman al-Sohaibani as saying. Al-Sohaibani is co-directing the Dadan Archaeological Mission.
The Dadanite and Lihnaite civilizations were important regional powers in their time.
According to historians, the kingdoms spanned about 900 years until 100 CE, and they controlled important trade routes.
Since little is known about them, archaeologists are trying to learn more about their economy, social life and worship rituals, Reuters reports.
Researcher Jerome Romer from the French National Center for Scientific Research told the news agency that excavations in the past were limited to the main sanctuary area.
They said they wanted to have a “comprehensive overview” of the site’s chronology, layout, material culture and economy.
Al Ula and its historical significance
The AlUla region is known for the tombs of al-Hijr (Madin Saleh) or Hegra – an ancient site carved into the rocks by the Nabataeans, a pre-Islamic Arab people.
The famous ancient city of Petra, an archaeological site in neighboring Jordan, was also built by the Nabataeans.
The 2,000-year-old archaeological site of Madin Saleh was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Saudi Arabia’s first – in 2008.
AlUla was opened to the public in 2019, and has been a major tourist destination since then.
Dadan is mentioned in the Old Testament, and according to the Royal Commission of AlUla, the Lihyanite kingdom, stretching from Medina in the south to Aqaba in the north in modern Jordan, was the largest of its time.
Saudi Arabia revealed its plans for AlUla earlier this year. It was reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud hopes to turn it into an international tourist destination for arts, culture and nature.
As the kingdom seeks to open up to the world, and diversify its economy which is mainly dependent on oil, the AlUla project follows its move to preserve pre-Islamic heritage sites to attract non-Muslim tourists. Is part of.
Saudi Arabia’s “Journey Through Time Masterplan” is a $15 billion project. According to Arab News, the project will be completed in 15 years’ time in three phases – the first set to be completed in 2023, the second in 2030 and the third in 2035.
The first phase has already seen the expansion of AlUla airport.
The Royal Commission for AlUla is calling the ancient area “the largest living museum in the world, where contemporary art coexists with ancient heritage”.
According to reports, Saudia Airlines is introducing a special museum on Sky Flight, which offers its passengers an in-depth look at AlUla. The flight from Riyadh to AlUla will operate on November 4.
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