Inscription from 5th century found in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province

A rare bilingual inscription has been discovered in the province of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

The inscription was found during an archaeological dig by the Saudi Heritage Commission in the Tabuk village of Alqan.

The Saudi Heritage Commission is in charge of preserving, protecting, and managing heritage sites in Saudi Arabia.

According to a media release by the Saudi Press Agency, the inscription included two lines in Thamudic script and one line in early Arabic.

Based on the style of the inscription, experts believe it dates from the 5^th century.

The presence of both Thamudic and early Arabic writing in the inscription shows the development of ancient writing systems in the Arabian Peninsula.

Thamudic refers to the language of the Thamud tribe, an ancient tribe in pre-Islamic Arabia that inhabited the northwestern Arabian peninsula between the fifth and eighth centuries.

The Thamud are mentioned in a variety of classical, Arabian, and Mesopotamian sources, including inscriptions in a temple the Thamud constructed in the 160s.

Another inscription found in Tabuk

In June 2023, an ancient Thamudic inscription curse was found also in Tabuk, specifically on Tabuk mountain.

The inscription dates from the end of the 1st to the 4th century, A.D.

It was reportedly discovered by a Saudi citizen by the name of Khalid Al-Fraih in the Tabhar area northwest of Tabuk, from which a lot of ancient inscriptions and monuments have also been found.

Speaking to Arab News, Dr. Suleiman Al-Theeb, a professor of ancient writing, said that the inscription was written on the façade of one of the mountains of Wadi Tabhar.

“What is interesting is that they used curses so that evil befalls those who distort and sabotage it,” Al-Theeb remarked.

“This type of curse is well known in the Thamudic, Nabataean, Palmyrian, and Safaitic inscriptions.”

Ancient inhabitants of the area were known to be pagans who worshipped idols.

Used for intimidation

Al-Theeb also noted that the curse inscription was to push away people who wanted to harm their god.

“This curse was written, most likely, to intimidate and scare away those who want to destroy their god, and the purpose of intimidation by cursing is to maintain and keep what has been written,” Al-Theeb said.

Rocks especially held significance for these people as they would damage each other’s rocks if they had conflicts.

“If two people disagree or a problem occurred between them, they would usually attack the rock of others,” Al-Theeb explained.

“In order to prevent others from attacking their rocks, they used to write on them words of threat, curse and intimidation of the wrath of the gods.”

“The fear was real and people would then refrain from destroying the rocks.”

Visiting Tabuk

For holders of a Saudi tourist visa, the Tabuk province offers a variety of attractions, from beaches, mountains, and seaside towns, inscriptions, to ancient castles.

It is renowned for its ancient archaeological sites and is known to be near where the prophet Moses lived for a decade.

Photo: DanyelODACI, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons