Uncovering the past

Saudi Arabia is the most exciting place in the Middle East for archaeological work, according to Sarah Swick, an anthropology lecturer at Dar Al Hekma College in Jeddah. She is completing her Ph.D. at American University in Washington, DC in the field of anthropology with archaeology as a subfield.
An American, she moved to the Kingdom several years ago after marrying a Saudi. Over the past four years, the couple has driven around the Kingdom and visited archaeological and other tourist sites in every one of the Kingdom’s provinces.
Swick said archaeological teams working in the Kingdom have made many exciting discoveries in the past couple of years, including the Al Magar site, where they recently found evidence the people of the Arabian Peninsula might have been the first to domesticate horses.
She said the best way to go about doing archaeological work in any region is through community archaeology— a partnership between the public and the archaeologists, as in the case of the Al-Magar site, which was discovered and reported by an observant local. “It is an example of how critical the role of the public is to archaeological work,” she added.
Swick said Saudi Arabia got a late start in the field of archaeology, but they are making up ground very quickly. “In the future, I hope to see even more Saudi students, male and female, studying archaeology. I would also like to see a community archaeology program that would encourage locals to be more involved in the digging and interpretation of sites,” she said.
Archaeology can teach us about the way of life of ancient people. “It gives insight into our own culture and history. Through my teaching at Dar al Hekma College, I have seen how learning about the ancient people of Arabia has enriched my students understanding of their heritage and history,” she explained.
She said archaeological work in Saudi Arabia has shown there were ancient civilizations here that in some ways were more advanced than better-known empires, such as Rome. The people of ancient Arabia were skilled in craftsmanship, metal work, farming, and especially in trade. The archaeological findings in the Eastern Province, at Thaj, and in southern Riyadh province, at Al-Faun, show the wealth and power of these ancient civilizations. These findings highlight the fact that ancient Arabia was a hub for trade from the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia.
“They were an open people who interacted with other cultures. Of course, from the Qur’an we know that some of this wealth corrupted them — this is something we can learn from today,” said Swick.
In terms of Mada’in Saleh, archaeological research has shown the structures carved in the rocks are Nabatean tombs.
Swick said the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) is doing a wonderful job. “As an administration they are still quite young, but they have achieved a lot in the past few years. I think if people were to contact them, they would be pleasantly surprised with their friendliness and efficiency. They even have a toll free number you can call any time with questions. We’ve used the number several times with great success,” she said, and added, ” In terms of protecting sites, they pay a local to guard the site and keep the key. I think this is a good way to keep the local community invested in the protection of these sites. One suggestion would be to make the process for gaining permission to archaeological sites easier— perhaps by simply filling out a form online.”
She hopes the Commission will do more archaeological work on the site of Ratt and Al Manjour, also known as Shuwaymas, which is on the Ha’il-Madinah border. “This is one of the most interesting sites of rock art in the world. While previous research focused on the rock art itself, there are many tombs made of piles of stone known as pendant tombs in the region, as well as other evidence of ancient people, that has yet to be excavated. I think this is where the next exciting discovery will be made.”
Swick is working with her husband to create a website (www.saudicolours.com) about the many sites they have visited to encourage Saudis to explore their country. The website will include historical and cultural information and give practical information about how to get there, where to stay, and permission needed. “I will also include a section about my experiences as a female, foreigner, and anthropologist. In the future, I hope we can expand it to encourage expats to visit the sites, and translate it into English,” she said.
She wishes there was more media attention promoting the work of archaeologists as well as local tourism. “The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities has organized amazing exhibitions and festivals, but I’ve found many locals don’t know about them. Usually, newspapers report about the event after it happens. I would like to see the media informing people about the opportunities and programs of the Commission,” she said.