New Exhibition In AlUla Highlights Dadan's Role In Ancient Trade And Culture

AlUla is set to unveil a new permanent exhibition, "Illuminating Discoveries – Uncovering the Layers of Dadan’s History," at the ancient city of Dadan. This exhibition offers an immersive exploration into the city's rich archaeological heritage and its historical significance. Visitors will gain insights into Dadan's past and its importance on both regional and global heritage maps.

The exhibition showcases over 100 artifacts unearthed by international teams at Dadan and Umm Daraj over five years. These findings highlight ancient trade routes, confirming AlUla's role in a sophisticated network. Among the artifacts are Greek figurines, a Roman or Byzantine hairpin, and inscriptions in an ancient South Arabian script.

A significant aspect of the exhibition is its focus on traditional crafts and customs. It displays evidence of cultural exchanges between ancient civilizations. The exhibition highlights Dadan's role as a political and commercial hub on the Incense Road during the first millennium BCE. Farming in Dadan dates back to around the third millennium BCE, with handcrafts emerging in the second millennium BCE.

Visitors can explore sections like "Crafts and Daily Life in Ancient Dadan" and "Exchange and Trade." The exhibition includes rare artifacts never before shown to the public. A copper-alloy spearhead from 400-50 BCE is among these items. Field surveys have also uncovered hundreds of inscriptions and rock art along Dadan’s cliffs.

The terracotta head from a Tanagra figurine, imported from Greece, illustrates Mediterranean artistic influence during the Lihyanite period. This head reflects how styles circulated across northwest Arabia. Another notable find is a statue from an ancient shrine at Dadan’s cliffs, dating to 400-50 BCE, showcasing high craftsmanship with preserved eye inlays.

Among other discoveries is a figurine with long hair and a belted garment found at the same site. Its eyes were once inlaid with bone, though only one arm remains intact. A unique sandstone fragment from the first millennium BCE features an inscription in Minaic script, likely from a temple or public building.

Collaborative Archaeological Efforts

The Royal Commission for AlUla collaborated with French organizations for this exhibition. The French National Centre for Scientific Research and French Agency for AlUla Development played key roles in recent Saudi-French archaeological missions at Dadan. This cooperation has led to significant advancements in understanding AlUla's history.

The launch of the 2025–2026 archaeological season marks one of AlUla's most extensive heritage research efforts. Over 100 archaeologists from leading institutions are involved in projects ranging from new excavations at Hegra to large-scale inscription surveys.

Reviving Ancient Traditions

The Royal Commission for AlUla aims to revive traditional crafts through cultural regeneration programs. New discoveries include complex metalwork examples and early textile production evidence using weaving techniques. These crafts were once vital to life in Dadan.

Jabal Ikmah, inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, contains nearly 300 inscriptions mostly from the Dadanite and Lihyanite periods. Merchants from Ma‘in left inscriptions documenting their cultural practices here, linking it to nearby sites like Jabal Ikmah's "open-air library."

The "Dadan and Jabal Ikmah Tour" offers exclusive access to this exhibition as part of visitors' experience. This initiative strengthens Saudi Arabia's position as a leader in cultural heritage research while advancing knowledge about ancient civilizations.

With inputs from SPA