Najran Region Unveils Sixth Oldest Early Arabic Inscriptoin
The Saudi Heritage Commission has announced the discovery and documentation of the sixth oldest early Arabic inscription in Jabal Al-Haqqun in the Hima cultural area of the Najran region in southern Saudi Arabia.
The inscription, belonging to Ka’b Bin Amr Bin Abd Manat, dates back to around 380 AD and was registered and sealed with the Nabataean calendar.
This discovery is considered an important addition to the register of early Arabic writings before Islam.
The commission stated that the inscription represents an important stage in the development of Arabic writing and is a valuable scientific contribution to the open museum of archaeological rock inscriptions in the Najran region.
The Al-Haqqun inscription is preceded by several inscriptions, including three in Al-Ula Governorate and another in Najran, as well as other inscriptions in Al-Jouf and Tabuk regions.
The Hima cultural area, previously registered in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List, is an open museum of rock inscriptions that extends over an area of approximately 557 square kilometers.
The commission's efforts to discover antiquities and protect national heritage in various regions of Saudi Arabia align with the National Strategy for Culture within Vision 2030.