Rock Art in Saudi Arabia – a General Introduction and New Findings

Saudi Arabia's deserts, home to a vast array of rock art primarily in the form of engraved petroglyphs, reveal dynamic adaptations by human populations to significant climatic and environmental changes over the past nine millennia. Contrary to the perception of unchanging desert societies, analysis of this rock art—dating back approximately 9,000 years—demonstrates flexible economic and social adjustments, some of which were adopted from neighboring regions like the Levant or Assyria, while others emerged within Arabia itself. A distinctive feature is the close association between rock art and inscriptions in at least 15 different scripts, many of which are local developments. Some inscriptions serve as crucial official records, providing insights into pre-Islamic history. Recent exploration and documentation by the author highlight these findings, challenging long-held assumptions about the stability of Inner Arabian societies.

Baumer, C. (2023). Rock Art in Saudi Arabia – a General Introduction and New Findings. Adoranten, 5–29. https://doi.org/10.65611/ador.vi.63784