Tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of travelers, pilgrims, and traders have passed through this great valley in AlUla over the ages, reported Akhbar 24.
They died and left Wadi AlNaam as a living witness to civilizations, stories, and secrets revealed by inscriptions on the sandstones. An open history book on a deep-rooted past. In the valley, visitors accompany the ancient hunter and discover the secrets of hunting local ostriches. Indeed, this valley was teeming with flocks of ostriches. Moreover, it was a renowned hunting area for the people of the Dedan civilization.
What distinguishes Wadi AlNaam is that it revels the stages of the development of Arabic writing, starting from the ancient Arabic scripts such as Dadanian and Thamudic, and Aramaic, passing through Islamic inscriptions that evolved from letters without dots to the phase of writing with dots around 50 AH by the linguistic scholar Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali.
The narrator and tour guide, Mashari Al-Balawi, emphasizes the importance of the Thamudic, Dadanian, Aramaic, and Islamic inscriptions and artifacts scattered across the mountains of Wadi AlNaam in AlUla. He reveals to ‘Akhbaar 24’ the strategic significance of the site for visitors, pilgrims, and traders coming from the north of the Arabian Peninsula.
Jabal Ikma in AlUla
Jabal Ikma in AlUla shines among the richest archaeological sites in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. It’s featured in the Ancient Kingdoms Festival in AlUla Governorate.
Evening at Jebel Ikma offers an exceptional experience in three exciting stages. The first stage is a stone carving session.
Secondly, one goes on a tour with a guide exploring the historic inscriptions in the gorge. Finally, the event concludes with a stunning light projection on the majestic mountain.
Unique Visitor Experience
Phillip Jones, Head of Tourism at the Royal Commission for AlUla, told “Akhbar24” that visitors will have a unique experience at Jabal Ikma in AlUla.
It’s home to the largest collection of inscriptions and relics in the Arabian Peninsula. Those relics narrate the social, political, and cultural pillars of ancient times, especially the Dedan and Lihyan Kingdoms.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Jabal Ikma in AlUla is part of the UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” register, joining other ancient landmarks of AlUla dating back thousands of years. This recognition underscores its historical significance.
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