New rock and animal drawings and other archeological discoveries were unearthed in the Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia by experts from France and the Kingdom, according to reports.
Operating under the supervision of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), teams discovered a large number of tools, engravings and architectural units in three separate sites in the region.
The Tabuk region was a conduit for ancient trade routes. Some of the findings could date back to 7,000-9,000 BC. The sites need further study and excavation.
According to Arab News, in the valleys and pastoral areas between the Tabuk and Jouf regions, a Saudi-Japanese team recorded 30 sites dating back to various periods and ages of the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, Iron Age and sites of Islamic times.
Saudi Arabia is rich with archeological heritage sites, and the Kingdom is considered to be ripe territory for new archeological discoveries. The sites that have been unearthed have yet to be discovered and appreciated widely beyond a few Saudi citizens, since Saudi Arabia does not issue tourist visas.
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic and social reform plan may see that change, as it calls for Saudi Arabia to “create attractions that are of the highest international standards, improve visa issuance procedures for visitors, and prepare and develop our historical and heritage sites.”
