Riyadh: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has announced in a press release the launch of an integrated research project to analyze and document more than 25,000 inscriptions discovered across various sites in AlUla, dating from the Iron Age to the late Islamic period. The initiative forms part of RCU’s ongoing efforts to safeguard cultural heritage and advance scholarly research into the history of writing in northwestern Arabia.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the project aims to establish a comprehensive digital record of AlUla’s inscriptions through linguistic analysis, digital documentation, and 3D scanning, while connecting each finding to its historical and cultural context. This scientific approach will enrich understanding of linguistic development, writing practices, and the interaction between ancient communities and the oasis over thousands of years.
The diversity of languages and scripts – ten in total – underscores AlUla’s historic role as a crossroads of civilizations and a hub for cultural exchange. Among the most prominent sites is Jabal Ikmah, home to Dadanitic and other ancient North Arabian texts. It was inscribed on UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2023 in recognition of its outstanding documentary value, reflecting the strong partnership between RCU and UNESCO in heritage protection and research development.
Jabal AlAqra also features a notable collection of early Arabic-Islamic inscriptions associated with historical pilgrimage routes, while the paths linking Dadan and Hegra bear some of the earliest known Arabic inscriptions related to trade and travel. Valleys such as Wadi Abu Oud contain Lihyanite and rock inscriptions depicting aspects of daily life and tribal symbols, offering insight into human interaction with the natural environment across different eras.
Among the most distinguished examples is the Zuhayr inscription, dating to the 24th year after Hijra. It provides valuable evidence of AlUla’s contribution to the early spread of Arabic writing and its role in recording the historical transformations that shaped the region.
The project also features training programs for archaeology students and those interested in documentary heritage, alongside public awareness initiatives designed to enhance community and visitor appreciation of this unique cultural legacy. The findings will be published in a series of specialized scientific volumes to support research and education in the fields of language, history, and archaeology.
Through this initiative, the release said, the RCU reaffirms its commitment to protecting cultural heritage, providing reliable academic knowledge, and strengthening AlUla’s position as a global center for the study of the civilizations and languages that flourished in the region for more than 3,000 years.
