D i s c o v e r i n g

issue n. 1 D i s c o v e r i n g C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E T H E R O Y A L E M B A S S Y O F S A U D I A R A B I A I N R O M E - M E D I A S E C T I O N

D i s c o v e r i n g S A U D I A R A B I A c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e T H E R O Y A L E M B A S S Y O F S A U D I A R A B I A I N R O M E - M E D I A S E C T I O N

regional map AL JOUF NORTHERN TABUK HAIL AL QASSIM Dammam Madinah city AL MADINAH Riyadh City Jeddah city Makkah Al Mukarramah MAKKAH RIYADH EASTERN REGION AL BAHA ASEER NAJRAN JAZAN Farasan Islands B A S I C I N F O FLAG EMBLEM RELIGION LANGUAGE 32,552,336

A Journey into the Past Saudi Arabia traces its ancient roots back to the earliest civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. Petroglyphs drawn into rock facades throughout the peninsula are among the most vivid testimonies of the social, cultural and economic lives of people in Arabia, from as early as the late Paleolithic through to pre-islamic times. Over the centuries, the peninsula has played an important role in history, as an ancient trade centre and as the birthplace of Islam and land of the Two Holy Mosques. Saudi Arabia, which occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, has therefore plenty of stunning historical sites, which allows the visitors to make an enriching journey into the past. In line with the principles of the Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is committed to the restoration of these sites and strives to have them registered internationally, to make them accessible to everyone, create a living witness of the Saudi ancient heritage and showcase its prominent place on the map of civilizations.

Mada'in Salih Al-Madinah Region Al Madinah Region mada'in salih The archaeological site of Mada'in Salih, also called Al-Hijr, is the first archaeological site in Saudi Arabia to be listed by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee (2008). Formerly it was known as Hegra and it is the largest conserved site of Nabataeans civilization, after the site of Petra in Jordan. Mada'in Salih is located in the Al-Ula province, within the Al- Madinah Region of Saudi Arabia. In July 2017, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula was established to emphasize the historical importance of the province. The area has an incredibly rich heritage, with innumerable archaeological sites dotting the landscape. Mada'in Salih features well-preserved monumental tombs, with decorated facades dating from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. The site consists of four necropolis, which include 111 tombs (94 of them are decorated), a siq (a narrow gorge, usually it was the main entrance to the city), walls, towers, water conduits and cisterns. The site also features about 50 inscriptions of the pre-nabataean period and some cave drawings. It is an outstanding illustration of the architectural style specific to the Nabataeans, consisting of monuments directly cut into the rock, and with facades bearing a large number of decorative motifs. The site includes also a set of wells, most of which were sunk into the rock and are still in use, demonstrating the Nabataeans' mastery of hydraulic techniques for agricultural purposes. Thanks to its location, at a meeting point between various civilizations of late antiquity - on a trade route between the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean costs and the Asia continent - Mada'in Salih bears also witness to the encounter between a variety of decorative and architectural influences (Assyrian, Egyptian, Phoenician, Hellenistic) and the epigraphic presence of several ancient languages (Lihyanite, Thamudic, Nabataean, Greek, Latin). The site is still well conserved and its integrity is remarkable because of its early abandonment; It also benefit, over a very long period, of highly favorable climatic conditions.

Riyadh Region AL-TURAIF DISTRICT IN AL-DIR'IYAH Al-Turaif District, located in Al-Dir'iyah, is a unique example of the Najdi architectural and its decorative style, developed to cope with the extreme desert climate; it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Al-Dir'iyah is an historic oasis located on the banks of Wadi Hanifa (Hanifa valley), located in the north-west of Riyadh, and it represents an important symbol in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1744, Al-Dir'iyah became the capital of the First Saudi State. Between the 18th and early 19th century, its political and religious role increased and the citadel Al-Turaif became the centre of the temporal power of the House of Saud. It remained the most famous city of the Peninsula even after the Ottoman Empire's armies destroyed the city and its geographical area. Al-Dir'iyah is distinguished for its nature and beautiful settings, such as streams and fertile lands. The architecture, the dwellings and irrigation network of Al-Dir'iyah bear witness to a building method that is well adapted to its environment; it shows the use of adobe in major palatial complexes, along with a remarkable sense of geometrical decoration. Turaif Neighborhood is considered as one of the most important landmarks in the historic Al Dir'iya, since it is the home of the most important archeological buildings, palaces and historical monuments. It includes many of the administrative buildings of the Saudi First State, such as Salwa Palace, which was built in the late sixteen century and it was a ruling base of the whole country. Besides Salwa Palace, there are many other landmarks, like the Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque, the Saad bin Saud Palace, the Nasir bin Saud Palace and the Traditional Guesthouse, which is the Turaif Hamam (bathrooms). Turaif is surrounded by a large fence with towers, that were used for surveillance and the defense of the city in the past. The palaces varied from singlestorey structures, like the restored Nasir bin Saud Palace, to two-storey courtyard palaces, like the Saad bin Saud Palace, to the three and four-storey buildings, like the Salwa Palace, which were taller and wide.

Ha'il Region rock art in ha'il There are many locations around the regions of Tabuk, Najran, Ha'il, and Medina replete with pre-islamic petroglyphs. However, the most important and largest archeological sites in the Kingdom are in Ha'il region. They are: Jabal Umm Sinman at the site of Jubbah (90 km northwest of the city of Ha'il), whose history goes back to 7000 BCE; Jabal Al-Manjor and Jabal Raat at Shuwaymis (250 km southwest of Ha il and near the town of Al-Hayit). These sites are are inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites since 2015 as "Rock Art in the Hai'l region". Together, these sites contain the biggest and richest rock art complexes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in the wider region. Jabal al-manjor and Raat at Shuwaymis form the rocky escarpment of a wadi (valley), now covered in sand. They show numerous representations of human and animal figures covering 10,000 years of history and suggest, amongst many other things, that water buffalos and mammoths may have existed in the region millennia ago. At Jabal Umm Sinman, the ancestors of present-day Arabs left marks of their presence in numerous petroglyph panels and inscriptions depicting a landscape, that once overlooked a freshwater lake. These petroglyphs were created by using a range of techniques, with simple stone hammers.

Makkah Region historic jeddah The Historic Old Jeddah is located in the hearth of the present city of Jeddah, located in Makkah region. Old Jeddah dates back to the pre-islamic era; in 2014, it was listed in the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. At the beginning of the Islamic era, in 647 CE, the city saw a major turning point when it was taken by Caliph Uthman, as the port of Makkah. It became the major port for Indian Ocean trade routes, channeling goods to Makkah. From that time on, the city of Jeddah gained its historic dimension, as one of the most important cities along the Red Sea coast and gateway of the Two Holy Mosques. These twin roles saw the city develop into a thriving multicultural center. This strict association with the Muslim annual pilgrimage (Hajj) gave Historic Jeddah a cosmopolitan population, where Muslims from Asia, Africa and the Middle East resided and worked, contributing to the city's growth and prosperity. The association with the Hajj is also very evident in the urban structure of the city. It is found in the traditional souks, in the architecture and in the very social fabric of the city, where Muslims from all over the world mingled, lived, and worked together. The city was characterized by a distinctive architectural tradition, which include tower houses, built in the late 19th century by the city s mercantile elites; Its architectural tradition combines the Red Sea coastal coral building decorative style, with influences and crafts from along the trade routes. There are also lower coral stone houses, mosques, souks (old markets) and small public squares, that together compose a vibrant space.

Historic Jeddah reflects also the final flourishing of the Indian Ocean sea trade after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the introduction of steamboats that linked Europe with India and Asia. This brought enormous wealth to many merchants, who built lavishly decorated houses, and it also led to developments of souks and mosques. In addition, the increase in sea going vessels allowed many more pilgrims to make the pilgrimage to Makkah, resulting in an expansion in the provision of accommodation for these visitors. Jeddah was, for centuries, the most important, largest and richest city among these settlements and today historic Jeddah is the last surviving urban site along the Red Sea coast, that still preserves the ensemble of the attributes of this culture: commercial-based economy, multi-cultural environment, isolated outward-oriented houses, coral masonry construction, precious woodwork decorating the facades, and specific technical devices to aid internal ventilation.

Eastern Region al-ahsa oasis Al-Ahsa Oasis is the largest desert oasis in the world and it became part of the World Heritage List in 2018. It includes 10.000 hectares with more than 3 million date-palms trees, 65 fresh and hot water springs. It is located in the Eastern region and 60 km is its inland distance from the Arabian Gulf. Due to its abundance of water in an otherwise arid region, Al-Ahsa has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Natural fresh-water springs have surfaced at oases in the region for millennia, encouraging human habitation and agricultural efforts since prehistoric times. The first human presence in Al- Ahsa was dated back to the 5th millennium BCE; The area comprise gardens, canals, springs, wells and a drainage lake, as well as historical buildings, urban fabric and archaeological sites. They represent traces of continued human settlement in the Gulf region from the Neolithic to the present, as can be seen from remaining historic fortresses, mosques, wells, canals and other water management systems. On the banks of this oasis there are many agricultural projects, due to the abundance of water, and freshwater springs. From the large number of springs Al-Ahsa acquired its name. Among them, there are for example, Al-Jawhariah, Um Sab ah, Al-Khodoud and Al-Harah Springs, in addition to the sulfur water. Al Ahsa is also known for its pleasant weather.

Dumat Al-Jandal Al-Jouf region dumat al-jandal Dumat Al-Jandal is an oasis located in the region of Al-Jouf, north of Saudi Arabia. It is the largest and best-known oasis at the northern limit of the great Al-Nafud desert. Dumat Al-Jandal served as an important station in the complex system of trade routes crossing the Arabian Peninsula, both from north to south and from east to west. The town has survived through the ages thanks to the local ability to exploit water, which is supplied by a complex hydraulic system of wells, channels, and underground tunnels named Qanât. Qasr Ma'arid (Ma'arid Castle) is the prime site of historical importance in Dumat Al-Jandal. It is a huge structure built of rough stone and mortar construction technique. It stands on a natural limestone outcrop, overlooking the valley where the ancient oasis lies; its position, which occupies what appears to have been a genuine acropolis, suggests that the Qasr Ma'arid must have been the site of one of the oldest settlements at Dumat Al- Jandal, dating at least back to Nabatean times. Umar bin al-khattab Mosque is certainly the most emblematic monument in Al-Jouf region. According to Saudi scholars, it was erected in the Umayyad period (661-749 CE), although some attributes its construction to the time of Islam s second caliph Umar bin Al-Khattab (634-644 CE), of which carries the name. The minaret has five storeys rising to a height of about 15 meters, and ends with a kind of pyramidion. Dumat Al-Jandal represents and example of fruitful cooperation in the archeological field between Saudi Arabia and Italy. In 2009, the Italian archeologist Prof. Alessandro de Maigret carried out the first archeological mission. The site is listed in the UNESCO Tentative List of Saudi Arabia in order to qualify for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Rijal Almaa Aseer Region Rijal Almaa Heritage Village Rijal village is located in the Aseer region and is the capital of the Rijal Almaa governorate. The village was a natural corridor linking those coming from Yemen and the Levant to Makkah and Madinah which makes it an important regional commercial center. The village consists of about 60 palaces built from natural stone, clay and wood. This village, which developed mainly during the 8th century CE, not only represents the architectural subgroup within the Aseer Region but also bears witness, for the Kingdom as a whole, to the traditional forms of rural life, which were abolished by the agricultural revolution in the 20th century. The village contains a heritage museum established by the efforts of the local inhabitants, who turned one of the forts into the museum headquarters in 1985. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has later adopted a rehabilitation project for the village with the participation of partners from the public and private sectors. Rijal village is today listed as part of the Tentative List of Saudi Arabia in order to qualify for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Zee Al-Ain Al-Baha Region Zee Al-Ain, the marble village The historical village of Zee Al-Ain is located 265 km south-east of Makkah, in Al Baha region. Built atop a marble hill, it is also known as the "Marble Village". It is a 400 years old abandoned stone settlement and it witnessed the battles between the Ottoman Turks and its inhabitants. Zee Al-Ain has been placed on the list of tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites, thanks to its exceptional features. According to UNESCO "The Traditional Village of Zee Al-Ain is an outstanding example of traditional human settlements that are perfectly adapted to their environment and their social and economic raison d être". A nearby natural spring provides water to a lush oasis surrounding the bottom of the hill. The village was named after this water spring that flows continuously from the nearby mountains to several reservoirs. The village has 49 dwellings, and was built on the summit of a white mountain famous for the cultivation of banana, lemon, pepper, basil and Kadi, and for the local handicrafts. The village has many two to four floors houses, a small mosque and many forts used to defend and survey the village. The houses are now empty, but some doors are still open so that visitors can enter and experience how the life of the inhabitants of Zee Al-Ain was several centuries ago. One of the striking aspects of these Arabian traditional houses is the cool temperature they offer. A walk along the stone stairs of Zee Al-Ain historical village not only offers unlimited picturesque viewpoints of the traditional houses, but it is also a delightful experience that brings people back in the 18th century, when the village was at its apogee.

Fort Za'abal Al-Jouf Region FORT ZA'ABAL Fort Za'abal is a fortress located in Al-Jouf Region. The fort is built of sandstone and clay. The current structure, consisting of a wall surrounded with four watchtowers and a water reservoir, is believed to have been built 200 years ago. However, archeological evidence shows several structures have existed on this site since the first century CE. It s prominence, at the highest point in the area, gives it a commanding view of the city, but it serves more than one purpose. The courtyard of the fort is also designed to be a catch basin for water, which is then fed into a well system that runs underneath the city. The wells are big enough for people to walk through.

Tayma Oasis Tabuk Region tayma oasis Tayma is a city located in Tabuk region and is one of the oldest settlements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in the whole Arabian Peninsula. In 2016, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) announced that a joint research team, comprising Saudi archaeologists and experts from Oxford University, discovered the oldest human bone during an excavation at Tayma. The bone found was the middle part of the middle finger of a human being, who lived 90'000 years ago. Thus, the oldest human trace found in the Arabian Peninsula. The importance of Tayma is attested in many ancient texts. Tayma is one of the few places in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (along with Dumat Al-Jandal), that is mentioned in Mesopotamian texts. The oasis lays in a natural depression, where a lake formed when the climate of the Arabian Peninsula was more humid. Today, after nearly 8'000 years of desertification process, Tayma still benefits from natural wells that have been maintained for millennia. In Tayma oasis, there is Bir Haddaj, one of the most famous wells from ancient times and an outstanding architectural landmark for the region. The well is known to date back at least to the middle of the 6th century BCE, during the Babel occupation. Latest archaeological and palaeo-environmental research indicate occupation by a sedentary population as early as the 4th millennium BC. The impressive mudbrick walls of the outer fortification may be dated as early as the 3rd millennium BCE. In the 5th century BCE, the entire oasis of Tayma was abandoned and buried, so the well fell into disuse for many centuries. In 1973 King Faisal Al-Saud visited Tayma and ordered the installation of four new water pumps.

September 2018

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Rome media section