Saudi Archaeology Season 2025–26 to explore ancient heritage of AlUla and Khaybar
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)
has inaugurated the 2025–2026 Archaeology and Conservation Fieldwork Season,
advancing AlUla’s growing reputation as a global hub for archaeological
discovery and heritage preservation.
The new season unites more than 100
Saudi and international researchers from leading institutions — including King
Saud University, Ghent University, Spain’s Institute of Heritage Sciences
(INCIPIT-CSIC), CNRS, Université Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Italy’s ESTIA —
to conduct extensive research across AlUla and Khaybar. Their collaborative
work spans from the Neolithic to Islamic eras, exploring the deep cultural and
historical roots of northwestern Arabia.
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Fieldwork will include excavations,
digital documentation, environmental and anthropological studies, and
sustainable conservation projects. Key sites under exploration include Hegra,
Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where new excavations will
shed light on Nabataean and Roman history, and Dadan, the ancient capital of
the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms, where ongoing analysis of over 167,000 animal
remains is offering rare insights into daily life more than 2,000 years ago.
Additional projects will document thousands
of ancient inscriptions, study historic pilgrimage routes, and examine urban
development in Khaybar oasis during the early Islamic period. Researchers are
also pioneering scientific conservation and restoration techniques using
advanced global technologies.
Recent archaeological seasons have
already yielded remarkable discoveries, including 7,000-year-old mustatils—some
of the world’s earliest monumental ritual structures—along with Bronze Age
settlements, rampart walls, and LiDAR-based urban mapping that reveal the
region’s complex evolution. Excavations at Qurh, an ancient city on key trade
and pilgrimage routes, have uncovered an integrated urban network of markets,
mosques, homes, and water channels, confirming its historic importance.
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Beyond exploration, this season
emphasizes training the next generation of Saudi archaeologists, offering
hands-on experience with 3D mapping, drone surveys, and digital documentation
tools.
Through this initiative, the RCU
reinforces its mission to advance knowledge, nurture local expertise, and
expand cultural tourism, while preparing for major international exhibitions
and the upcoming Ancient Kingdoms Festival. The Commission also continues
progress toward establishing a dedicated research institute for cultural
heritage studies — cementing AlUla’s position as a world leader in
archaeological research and preservation.
Source: APP
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