Ancient Arabs Migrated From Central Arabia To Establish Kingdoms In Iraq, Levant, And Egypt

Dr. Suleiman Al-Theeb, a renowned Saudi writer and historian, participated in a panel discussion titled "Ancient Arabic Writings" at the Riyadh International Book Fair. This event, held from September 26 to October 5 by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, focused on the Kingdom's cultural heritage and the Arabian Peninsula's rich history.

Al-Theeb delved into the meanings behind ancient Arab inscriptions and writings in Arabic script. He highlighted the region's heritage and antiquities, presenting insights into its cultural and civilizational contributions. His discussion covered various aspects such as language, identity, social norms, religion, economy, inscriptions, rock art, wall art, and artifacts.

During the discussion, Al-Theeb emphasized that Arabs have historically inhabited the Arabian Peninsula exclusively. He noted that other ethnic groups resided there only temporarily. The term "Arab" was first used during the Assyrian era in the 8th and 9th centuries BCE to describe certain tribes.

Migrations from the Arabian Peninsula began in its central region. These migrations moved northward towards Mesopotamia, Greater Syria, and Egypt. In these areas, immigrants established kingdoms and settled down.

Al-Theeb mentioned a significant archaeological find: the oldest known Arab inscription discovered in Palestine's Lachish city. This Thamudic inscription dates back to 1300 BCE. Initially mistaken for Phoenician from 1509 BCE, it was later identified as combining South Arabian script with Thamudic letters.

As a leading historian in Saudi Arabia, Al-Theeb has extensively written about ancient civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. His work explores various social dimensions of these civilizations dating back thousands of years.

Contributions to Archaeology and History

Dr. Al-Theeb is a professor of ancient Arabic inscriptions at King Saud University. He is also an expert in archaeology and ancient languages of the Arabian Peninsula. His career includes numerous archaeological expeditions and authoring many books, studies, and papers on heritage and historical research.

His publications are primarily in Arabic and focus on civilization studies. Al-Theeb remains a prominent figure in studying ancient Saudi history through his extensive research efforts.

With inputs from SPA