Results from the aerial archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, al-ʿUlā (AlUla) and Khaybar Projects: 2018–2021

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

A vital preliminary to the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has been to document the rich archaeological heritage of al-ʿUlā. To accomplish this, RCU established an extensive landscape survey with the Aerial Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – al-ʿUlā (AAKSAU) project tasked in early 2018 to record the county’s vast hinterland. In early 2019, the Aerial Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Khaybar (AAKSAK) project was created to survey Khaybar County, when parts of the region were placed under RCU’s remit. These two projects undertaken by the University of Western Australia utilize remote sensing, aerial archaeology by helicopter, ground survey, and targeted excavation to document and record the extensive and exceptional archaeological remains of the al-ʿUlā hinterland and parts of Khaybar.
This paper presents the results of the AAKSAU and AAKSAK projects, which have so far documented more than 20,000 sites dating from the Palaeolithic to the present. This paper also outlines the first results from the targeted excavation programme, which has explored several Neolithic mustatil and domestic dwellings, as well as the monumental Bronze Age funerary structures that traverse both regions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 51
Subtitle of host publicationRevealing Cultural Landscapes in North‐West Arabia
EditorsRebecca Foote, Maria Guagnin, I Périssé, S Karacic
Place of PublicationOxford
PublisherArchaeopress
Pages27-50
Number of pages24
ISBN (Electronic)9781803273952
ISBN (Print)9781803273945
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Event54th Meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies - Online
Duration: 2 Jul 202111 Jul 2021
Conference number: 54

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies

Conference

Conference54th Meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies
Period2/07/2111/07/21

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