Saudi Arabia will announce it has all the tools to become a global leader in archaeology during its first virtual Forum on Archaeological Discoveries on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hosted by the country’s Ministry of Culture and its Heritage Commission, the forum will bring together archaeologists, scientists and researchers from Saudi Arabia and around the world to discuss excavation projects and studies in the country.
The kingdom is full of cultural and archaeological treasures, and is already home to six Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Earlier this year, the commission organised a virtual training programme focused on heritage crafts in cooperation with Google Skills. It held several virtual seminars for the community, led by regional and international heritage and preservation specialists.
Dr Jasir Alherbish, CEO of the Heritage Commission, told The National the commission wants to preserve Saudi heritage to “share this legacy with the world” by launching new initiatives.
He said an “extraordinary opportunity” exists to evolve the heritage sector into a major driver of economic and creative growth, he said.
The cultural sector is set to contribute more than US$23bn to the Saudi economy and more than 100,000 jobs over the next decade.
Dr Alherbish said educational and training programmes are being provided for young scientists and students, as well as employment opportunities.
“Investment in local talent and infrastructure will support the kingdom’s goals and ambitions to become a leader in the field of heritage and archaeology,” he said.
Under Vision 2030, a cultural transformation is already under way in the kingdom, said Dr Jasim. “The Ministry of Culture is supporting the growth of the sector and unlocking opportunities for everyone,” he said. “We are continuously sharing our studies and discoveries with the world and these have been recognised by major institutions and entities.”
Last month, the Heritage Commission’s study of ancient lake sediments in Jubbah and Khel Amishan in Al Nufud AlKabeer Desert was published by Nature, a leading scientific journal.
The study, carried out by Saudi and international researchers, leveraged the latest technologies to study the history of human migrations in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Journal of Archaeological Science also published a study involving the commission, which proved that rock carvings at the Camel Site in Al Jouf date back to the Neolithic period — making it the oldest known surviving large-scale animal rock sculpture in the world.
Dr Jasim said: “Protecting and preserving our cultural and natural heritage is a key priority in Saudi Arabia. In the past few years, we have returned tens of thousands of national antiquities from inside and outside the kingdom that were illegally taken and recently added an additional 624 new heritage sites to the National Antiquities Register.”
“We have announced several ground-breaking archaeological discoveries and there are many hidden treasures that have yet to be discovered,” said Dr Jasir.
In September, the kingdom took part in Restoration Week 2021 in Italy, where Dr Jasir gave a lecture on the commission’s efforts to restore heritage sites and structures in Saudi Arabia.
The Forum on Archaeological Discoveries will host discussions on major discoveries, including the Camel Site in Al Jawf region, Kilwa Archaeological Project in Tabuk Province, antiquities of Dedan in AlUla, and antiquities in the ancient Oasis of Tayma in the Tabuk Province.
The forum will be streamed live on the Ministry of Culture’s YouTube channel.
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Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
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"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
