Damascus: The "Illuminating Discoveries - Uncovering the Layers of Dadan's History" exhibition continues to welcome visitors to AlUla Governorate as part of the Dadan and Jabal Ikmah Tour during the summer season, offering an immersive cultural and educational experience exploring the rich history of Dadan, the ancient capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the exhibition is hosted at the Dadan archaeological site and takes visitors on a chronological journey through the city's history, showcasing more than 100 artifacts unearthed during archaeological excavations at Dadan and Umm Daraj over the past five years. The discoveries provide insight into daily life, craftsmanship, beliefs, and trade networks that flourished in the region.
The exhibition highlights Dadan's role as a crossroads of civilizations through artifacts illustrating its far-reaching commercial and cultural connections. Among the exhibits are Greek-style objects, a bone hairpin dating to the Roman or Byzantine period, and Minaean inscriptions from ancient South Arabia, reflecting the city's integration into the historic Incense Road that linked Arabia with the wider ancient world.
Visitors can also explore archaeological evidence tracing the origins of agricultural activity in Dadan to around the third millennium BCE, alongside the emergence of handicrafts during the second millennium BCE. The exhibition documents the evolution of industries such as metalworking, spinning, and weaving, demonstrating the city's long-standing cultural and economic development.
Among the highlights are artifacts being displayed publicly for the first time, including finely carved stone statues discovered during recent excavations that showcase the craftsmanship of Lihyanite sculptors. A Greek-style pottery head further illustrates the artistic and cultural exchanges between Dadan and Mediterranean civilizations.
The exhibition is one of the signature cultural experiences offered as part of the Dadan and Jabal Ikmah Tour, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to explore authentic archaeological discoveries that reveal the story of one of the Arabian Peninsula's oldest civilizations while reinforcing AlUla's position as a destination where heritage, archaeology, and tourism converge.
