were cultural interactions with neighboring
cultures in Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia,
and southern Arabia, it’s likely that this
Dadanite skill demonstrates a cultural
evolution unique to this part of Arabia.
Rock art that may date from the Dadanite
or Lihyanite period includes hunting scenes,
camels, ostriches, and abstract depictions
of people. Archaeologists have discovered
statuary at certain sites, including
anthropomorphic likenesses that have
been interpreted as either Dadanite gods or
images of living individuals, carved to show
homage and dedication to the gods.
Alongside the people of Daan’s notable
skills in politics, trade, science, and art,
evidence suggests dedication in how they
buried their dead. During the Lihyanite
period, people carved tombs into the cliffs,
designed for one person or more. Also
visible today, set into sandstone cliffs, are the
“lion tombs,” carved tombs adjacent to one
another, each of which is flanked by reliefs
of lions, perhaps as divine protection for the
tombs’ inhabitants.
“The kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan
played a major role during the first
millennium BCE,” says Alsuhaibani,
confirming the importance of a place and
a period of history long overlooked. Today,
excavations and investigations into the
cultures of the people of Dadan continue
throughout the AlUla valley, shedding new
light on their artistry and ingenuity. With
each new discovery, it becomes clear that
the desert—once thought of as barren or
empty—in truth has always hosted life. The
Dadan oasis, among other oases and centers
of activity in this region, exhibits human
achievement and drama as rich as anywhere
on our planet.
To learn more about AlUla visit
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/journey-to-alulaTo plan a trip to AlUla visit http://www.experiencealula.comBust of an ex-voto, excavated in Umm Daraj sanctuary,
AlUla.Detail of a carved lion above a tomb at Dadan.A Dadanitic inscription showing a mixture of formal and
informal letter shapes.Photograph courtesy of Royal Commission for AlUlaPhotograph by Matthieu PaleyPhotograph by L. Nehmé