Saif al-Arab
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Saudi Arabia retrieves 52,000 historical artefacts since 2011
ARAB NEWS | Published — Sunday 22 October 2017
JEDDAH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) announced that it has successfully retrieved more than 52,000 artefacts from inside and outside the country as part of the National Project for Digital Recording of Antiquities, which follows international standards for archaeological recording and archiving.
The project aims to document and store all historic sites, artefacts, historical monument and urban heritage buildings in a comprehensive national digital registry linked to a multi-dimensional digital map, which is compatible with modern GIS technologies and digital databases, maps, images and graphics.
Director-General of Archiving and Protecting Antiquities at the SCTH, Naif Al-Qannour, said: “The new digital recording project stores detailed information and reports about 32,000 artefacts retrieved from outside the Kingdom and 20,000 returned by citizens to the SCTH since Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of SCTH, launched the campaign to retrieve national artefacts in 2011.”
“Some artefacts found their way outside Saudi Arabia through foreign travelers who moved them to other countries.” Al-Qannour continued, “One of the most famous artefacts is the Tayma Stone, which was discovered by Charles Huber and later on displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.”
He also explained that many employees of foreign companies, especially those who work in the oil industry, visited many parts of Saudi Arabia to study their geology and natural manifestations, collected the artefacts they found and took them to national museums at their home countries.
“Robbers of archaeological sites sometimes dig for archaeological treasures and achieve fast financial gains,” Al-Qannour said, “By doing so, they are destroying important archaeological evidence found in these sites, be it on land or in the sea.”
Al-Qannour stated that the SCTH will continue to work on retrieving and protecting artefacts and has released a red list of artefacts stolen from their sites inside Saudi Arabia and information about them in order to make them easier to identify. The SCTH has also announced handing financial rewards to those who return artefacts or report their loss or theft.
In 2011, Prince Sultan launched a campaign for retrieving national artefacts, including media and cultural programs and initiatives that aim to enlighten and inform citizens about the value of artefacts and the importance of returning them to the SCTH.
Recently, the SCTH released a list of 140 names of citizens who returned artefacts, reported archaeological sites or cooperated with the SCTH in protecting the country’s cultural heritage between 2013 and 2017 in order to honor them during the First Antiquities Forum, which will be launched under the patronage of King Salman, on Nov. 7 at the National Museum in Riyadh.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1181431/saudi-arabia
That's an insane amount. Great job. Robbers of archaeological sites must be punished harshly.
Current Anthropology Volume 58, Supplement 17, December 2017
Not Just a Crossroad
Population Dynamics and Changing Material Culture in Southwestern Asia during the Late Pleistocene
by Knut Bretzke and Nicholas J. Conard
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/694077
Archaeologists baffled by these ‘gates of hell’ in Saudi Arabia
By Mike Wehner, BGR
October 20, 2017 | 10:06am |
NASA
When researchers are searching for remnants of structures and settlements constructed by ancient peoples, they typically focus on areas that are hospitable to human life. A new discovery in Saudi Arabia goes firmly against that notion, with archaeologists revealing the existence of hundreds of stone “gates” situated in and around ancient lava domes, in an area that is little more than a hellish landscape devoid of vegetation and water.
The structures, which measure anywhere from 40 feet to nearly 1,700 feet in length, are crude in their construction, built of rough rocks that have withstood thousands of years of wear and tear. What’s most interesting is that it appears that the lava fields these structures were built upon were still active at the time, with hardened lava appearing to have flowed over some of the gates.
“Gates are found almost exclusively in bleak, inhospitable lava fields with scant water or vegetation, places seemingly amongst the most unwelcoming to our species,” wrote David Kennedy of the Western University of Australia, who led the research. Kennedy noted that the structures “appear to be the oldest man-made structures in the landscape” and that at the moment, “no obvious explanation of their purpose can be discerned.”
The discovery was made using satellite imagery and the researchers used their bird’s-eye view to identify nearly 400 of the gates in the same area. Along with the odd walls, other clearly man-made structures were spotted, including what appear to be animal traps and wheel-shaped objects that have yet to be identified. The current best guess as to the age of the construction is somewhere in the neighborhood of 9,000 years.
The next step for researchers is launching some kind of expedition to investigate the site and perhaps come up with some kind of an explanation for why the structures exist and what they were used for. It’s an incredible discovery, but the structures — and their precarious location — are so mysterious that there’s bound to be an even greater story waiting to be told.
http://nypost.com/2017/10/20/archaeologists-baffled-by-these-gates-of-hell-in-saudi-arabia/
SCTH announces winners of Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Ansari Award for Serving Kingdom’s Antiquities
Last Update : 11/1/2017 2:49 PM
The Secretariat-General of Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Ansari Award for Serving Kingdom’s Antiquities on Monday, October 30, 2017 announced the winners of the Award in its first session.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the press conference of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz President of SCTH in which he had announced the details of the 1st Saudi Archeology Convention, which is to be held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah protect him) during 7-9 November 2017, at King Abdul Aziz Historical Center, in Riyadh.
The first session of the award is dedicated honor the pioneers and young archeologists have provided invaluable services to the antiquities of Saudi Arabia in the field of archeological research and archeological work.
The award is organized by SCTH with the participation of King Saud University and the Saudi Society for Archaeological Studies.
The award consists of four categories: 1) Pioneers of Saudi archaeologists who have spent many years serving the antiquities and national heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2) Pioneers of non-Saudi archaeologists who have spent many years in the service of antiquities in general and have scientific contributions to the monuments and heritage of the kingdom In particular; 3) Young Saudi scholars, who are interested in the antiquities of the Kingdom, whether they are employed in the government institutions or graduate students; 4) Young non-Saudi scholars from who have an interest in the antiquities of the Kingdom both those who are engaged in this sector or graduate students in their countries.
Names of the winners are as follows:
First: Pioneer Group of Saudi Archaeologists:
- Al-Turath Foundation: for its pioneering role in the recovery of national antiquities from outside the Kingdom and its contributions in the areas of the development and rehabilitation of antiquities sites, in addition to its awareness-raising role in the field of antiquities through exhibitions in various locations and the publication of a number of books and researches specializing in antiquities.
- Late Sheikh Abdul Quddus Al Ansari: As the most prominent pioneering individual, who had been paying great attention to antiquities. His book Monuments of the Medina and another book on the history and antiquities, as well as his writings and investigations related antiquities that were published by Al Manhal Magazine, which he founded and served as its Editor-in-chief until his death.
- Late Sheikh Mohamed bin Balehud: coming after Al Ansari in terms of his attention to the Kingdom’s antiquities, in addition to his great book entitled "Accurate News about Arabian Antiquities", besides his efforts in the investigations of the most important book on the geography of the Arabian Peninsula entitled "Safia Jazira Arabia" (Character of Arabian Peninsula” written by Al Hamdani. Also, he was the first to verify the exact location of Souk Okaz at the request of late King Faisal.
- Late Sheikh Hamad Al Jasir: He outperformed his league in terms of intensity of his scientific production in the geography, history and heritage of Saudi Arabia, in addition to his scientific investigations of key historic manuscripts in multiple subjects, and his publications in Dar Al Yamama for Research, Translation and Publication, in addition to his contributions in Al Arab magazine which he founded and edited until his death.
- Dr. Abdullah bin Hassan Masri: In recognition of his efforts in establishing the Archaeology Department in the Ministry of Education a and promoting the development of archaeological activity through preparing the antiquities regulation, establishment of the Archaeological Survey and Exploration Project and the publication of the Saudi Antiquities Bulletin.
- Sheikh Abdullah Philbi: in recognition of his pioneer efforts in serving the Kingdom’s history, antiquities and geography, and his efforts in this area are countless.
- Green Arabia Project: because of project’s pioneering efforts in the field of pre-history studies in the Kingdom and diversity of its studies and continuity of research works.
- Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Zahrani: One of senior officials of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, holder of a PhD from the University of York in UK, entitled, "Mining in Al Baha, southwest of Saudi Arabia, during early Islamic eras, an archaeological study of the Asham Settlement”.
- Khaled bin Fayez Al Asmari: Graduated from the College of Antiquities and Tourism, King Saud University for his master’s thesis entitled, “Al Oyayna Archeological Sites: A study of the Neolithic Age in the northwest of Saudi Arabia”.
- Romello Loreto, Italian national: In recognition of his efforts in the Domat Al Jandal excavation project.
- Jerome Romer, French national: For his efforts in the archaeological excavations project in Madain Saleh, and as the chief of the scientific team in Thaj Archaeological site in the Eastern Province.
This Awards was proposed by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTH and it was approved within the course of awareness raising and familiarizing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cultural Heritage Initiative, in recognition and appreciation of the great role played by the pioneering Saudi archeologist, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Ansari along with his busy and rich career as a Saudi archeologist, who discovered many archeological sites in the Kingdom and contributed to highlighting and presenting the Saudi antiquities to the world.
Dr. Al Ansari is well known as the leading archaeologist in the Kingdom, who established a division for Archaeological Study within the department of history in King Saud University, which later became a department of antiquities and then a college. He was also one of the first members of Saudi Faculty to hold a PhD from King Saud University, and the first Saudi Dean of the Faculty of Arts in King Saud University.
He has authored a number of books and research works, in addition to his scientific contributions in the national and international conferences and symposiums.
Dr. Al Ansari’s research and studies have contributed to highlight the Saudi heritage and its deep-rooted culture. He had a key role in producing a new generation of Saudi scholars and graduated who specialized in all disciplines related to the antiquities of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula.
https://scth.gov.sa/en/MediaCenter/News/GeneralNews/Pages/z-g-1-1-11-17.aspx
Incredible stuff!
Saudi Arabian tourism commission to display antiques that date back to 1st millennium BC
The antiques will be among the items displayed by the Exhibition of Saudi Archeological Masterpieces through the Ages which has visited several world museums. (SPA)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Sunday, 29 October 2017
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage is currently displaying unique antique glassware and ceramics that date back to the 1st millennium BC and that were found in Qaryat al-Faw, which is around 700 kilometers away from southwest Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
These antique items were either imported from major manufacturing centers in Mashreq countries or from Egypt in the 1st and 2nd millennium BC. Alexandria in particular was well-known for manufacturing these products which were imported to several places across the East, reaching as far as Bagram in Afghanistan.
These antiques reflect the development and wealth of civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula.
Qaryat al-Faw is one of the larger and more famous archaeological sites in the Saudi kingdom. It’s historically significant as it was the capital of the first Kindah kingdom which played a major role in the Arabian Peninsula from the mid of First Century BC until early Fourth Century AD.
The antiques will be among the items displayed by the Exhibition of Saudi Archeological Masterpieces through the Ages which has visited several world museums. They will be displayed at the national antiquities exhibition scheduled for November 7,8 and 9 in Riyadh.
Last Update: Sunday, 29 October 2017 KSA 15:29 - GMT 12:29
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/li...-hosting-exhibition-on-refugees-in-Dubai.html
