UNESCO provides Iran caravanserais to heritage websites listing

ALULA: The barren expanse of AlUla, recognized for its historic monuments and enchanting desert landscapes, has lengthy captured the imaginations of those that traverse its historic grounds.

An exploratory examine is unveiling an interesting hyperlink between the historic websites of AlUla and the cosmos, demonstrating an outdated connection between civilizations and the celebrities that continues to affect the area in the present day.

Located within the northwest of the Kingdom, AlUla’s archaeological websites provide a singular window into the importance of astronomy within the area’s historical past. Tales shared by guides, in addition to proof from historic civilizations, reveal how the huge desert’s starry cover performed a pivotal position in guiding vacationers and business caravans, serving to them navigate the huge expanses over the centuries.

Majed Al-Zahoufi, a passionate information and astronomy fanatic, has cultivated a deep reference to the desert. His journey into the realm of stars started virtually a decade in the past by way of avid studying and private observations.

Al-Zahoufi informed Arab Information that his exploration of those topics is firmly rooted in actuality and under no circumstances unusual. Drawing from his in depth information of Arab historical past, civilizations, and astronomy, he identified a constant sample: “The varied civilizations that thrived in AlUla, such because the Dadans, Lihyans, Nabataeans, and Minaeans, all strategically managed important international commerce routes.

“Amongst these routes had been the famend incense routes utilized by merchants from the southern Omani area to traverse in direction of the northern elements of the Arabian Peninsula. This crossroads of commerce facilitated interactions between numerous cultures, together with the Greeks, Babylonians, and Assyrians.”

These historic civilizations, positioned on the crossroads of commerce, communicated with numerous cultures, lots of which had been closely influenced by astronomy. Some even worshipped the celebrities.

All through historical past, cultures worldwide have acknowledged the profound interaction between the Earth and the sky. Celestial our bodies, like luminaries, held the important thing to navigation, figuring out seasons and guiding numerous cultural practices. This connection between civilizations and the cosmos stays evident within the wealthy tapestry of AlUla’s previous.

The varied civilizations that thrived in AlUla, such because the Dadans, Lihyans, Nabataeans, and Minaeans, all strategically managed important international commerce routes.

Majed Al-Zahoufi, AlUla information

Al-Zahoufi stated: “In my private observations and readings, I see an in depth relationship between the Nabataeans, their artifacts, and the sky. Quite a few scientific research validate this bond, exhibiting how the Nabataeans believed within the affect of constellations.”

This historic connection between civilizations and the cosmos has attracted the eye of contemporary consultants. In Could, a crew of archaeoastronomy specialists launched into a area examine throughout the AlUla Oasis.

Their goal is to unveil the explanations behind historic civilizations’ number of particular websites, decode the symbolism of tomb inscriptions, and decipher the cultures’ notion of the sky. By analyzing architectural particulars, ornamental patterns, and calendar indications, researchers purpose to piece collectively a complete image of how the sky influenced these societies’ worldview.

Juan Antonio Belmonte, an astrophysicist from Spain’s Institute of Astrophysics, discovered an intimate correlation between the Earth and the sky by way of preliminary knowledge collected from 100 Nabataean tombs. Within the months forward, analytical and statistical research will additional elucidate the connection between the traditional Arab kingdoms and the universe.

Amongst AlUla’s treasures is the Gharameel space, a haven for stargazing — the additional away one goes from metropolis lights, the extra stars turn into seen within the evening sky, Al-Zahoufi defined. In Gharameel, round 6,000 twinkling stars adorn the sky, an awe-inspiring sight solely attainable when gentle air pollution decreases.

To safeguard this exceptional stargazing vacation spot, the Royal Fee for AlUla is actively working to reduce gentle emissions from town. Guests may also take midnight excursions to the secluded Gharameel space to immerse themselves in constellations underneath the untouched AlUla evening sky.

The enchantment of AlUla extends to its geological marvels as nicely. Abdullah Al-Shammari, a Saudi geologist, defined that the distinctive Gharameel rock formations are composed of sedimentary layers formed by historic marine and riverine environments.

“The sedimentation started on this formation on the finish of the Cambrian period and the start of the Ordovician period (the Paleozoic period) that falls between 470 to 500 million years in the past,” Al-Shammari stated.

He additionally highlighted that these geological wonders mirror comparable formations the world over, from the Ennedi Plateau in Chad to the Saudi Arabian desert.

The celebs, woven into the material of Arab tradition, function poetic inspiration and cultural markers, encapsulating the enduring relationship between man and the cosmos. Within the enchanting tapestry of AlUla’s historical past, archaeology and astronomy dance collectively, revealing a narrative that transcends time.

Al-Zahoufi stated: “Astronomy isn’t merely a scientific endeavor; it holds a wondrous privilege of unraveling the sky’s mysteries, guiding agricultural practices, and even influencing the humanities.

“Arabs additionally embodied astronomy in Arabic poetry as they reward their kings, flirt with their beloved by way of the celebrities as a result of the celebrities are an genuine tradition for the Arabs and a method of leisure.”