Animal sacrifices and celestial tombs: Unraveling the continuing mysteries of the Saudi deserts

What unfolds when hundreds of archaeologists gather inside a 'glass box' in the heart of the desert?

It’s an unusual question, yet it became reality last week when experts from across the globe met in the stunning, mirror-clad Maraya cultural center near the historic oasis town of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, for the first-ever World Archaeological Summit.

The event provided new insights into the ancient enigmas being uncovered in Saudi Arabia as the nation invests billions to expose its long-hidden history to the world’s tourism industry.

Organized by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) of the Kingdom, and backed by his Royal Commission for AlUla, the conference focused on panel discussions rather than formal academic papers, gathering a wide array of archaeological experts.

One of the key goals was to assist in charting Saudi Arabia’s route toward sustainable heritage tourism.

Many attendees approached the event with caution, given the event's sponsor’s reputation for both shocking brutality and rapid reform. They certainly weren't left uninterested. 'We didn’t anticipate so much dialogue, and I don’t think the organizers did either,' one participant shared.

Ancient revelations

The unconventional conference was just one aspect of the appeal. Experts were granted rare access to a treasure trove of ancient discoveries that, until recently, had been largely untouched by all but the most dedicated archaeologists.

Archaeology is both a personal passion for MBS and a key element of his strategy to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy by attracting tourists to experience heritage sites alongside world-class luxury resorts.

For MBS, it also serves as a strategic tool to diminish the influence of conservative Islamists in Saudi Arabia, who view these sites as un-Islamic.

By dismantling decades of cultural isolation, developing the AlUla oasis, and revealing vast ancient Nabatean burial sites in nearby Hegra, Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable new archaeological findings.

However, for every mystery solved, another, sometimes tenfold, arises – such as the celestial orientation of the massive Nabatean tombs etched into the breathtaking sandstone cliffs.

Adam Ford, an archaeologist from the Royal Commission for AlUla, took me on a personal tour to view the graves up close.

"The graves seem to be aligned with the sun and moon’s movements, perhaps marking the solstices to signal the changing of the seasons," he explains.

Ford, with the weathered look of a seasoned field archaeologist and the approachable demeanor of a friendly educator, brings history to life as we venture deeper.

"As many as 10 ancient languages from North Africa have been uncovered here," he reveals.

Are these the world’s oldest animal sacrifices?

So far, archaeological evidence suggests that humans walked this land at least 200,000 years ago. They arrived after leaving Africa through the Sinai, then turned south into the Arabian Peninsula, now modern-day Saudi Arabia, according to Ford.

Each discovery, Ford says, holds the potential to reveal new insights. A recently unearthed fragment of ancient silk, for example, indicates that trade routes once stretched southward to places like 'India or the Far East.'

"We are still conducting tests on the fragment," he adds.

Thanks to unprecedented access to AlUla’s ancient wonders, researchers are still working to decode the mystery of the Nabataean tombs' alignment and how they might relate to stargazing or celestial events.

"We just had a researcher come in from the Canary Islands," says Ford. "The data on the stars is still preliminary; he’s still sifting through it. It’s only been a few months since he arrived."

A recent find is believed to be one of the oldest known animal sacrifice sites in the world. While it’s clear that many animals were sacrificed there, the site remains shrouded in mystery, according to Jonathan Wilson, the RCU’s collection and knowledge manager.

At the RCU’s new headquarters, the newly renovated AlUla Museum, Wilson opens one of the large drawers in the packed artifact storage area and carefully retrieves a clear plastic bag containing what appears to be a large, yellowed horn.

"Aurochs," he says. "An extinct ancestor of modern cattle, but much larger."

Carbon dating of cooking charcoal discovered nearby accurately places the site at 5,200 B.C.E., according to Wilson, but the puzzle remains as to why only the upper part of the animal’s skull and its horns were found.

"They discarded the rest," Wilson adds.

It’s hard to picture cattle surviving, let alone flourishing, in the scorching desert that is Saudi Arabia today. But Ford explains, "The landscape was much greener back then." There was more rainfall, it seems. But why? That too remains an enigma.

‘Incredible’ archaeology

According to the RCU, its goal is to assist Saudi Arabia's archaeologists in solving the complex puzzles presented by the desert, while simultaneously expanding their operations and expertise in a sustainable manner.

Wilson opens another drawer and retrieves a broken six-inch figurine, a dark ochre color, possibly used in rituals or as an offering.

"They were taken to a mountain, smashed, and left there. People never returned," he explains.

He’s referring to the Dadenites, the ancient people who controlled the incense and spice trade routes through AlUla before the Nabateans, whose rise to power remains another mystery, overtook them.

As RCU operations expand, Wilson hopes that its specialists will uncover more details, including the reason behind the smashing of the figurines.

Each season, Wilson receives approximately 700 cases of artifacts from archaeological excavations conducted by the RCU.

"Each crate can contain anywhere from one to 600 items," he explains. "We sort them based on their significance," aiming to showcase many of these recently uncovered treasures.

According to him, coins provide some of the most significant insights into the civilizations that once thrived in AlUla. The Nabateans featured the heads of kings on their coins, which has been invaluable for tracking dynastic timelines.

The Dadenites, however, didn’t. Wilson explains they minted Greek-style coins because they were seen as more valuable than their own currency.

Ford, with decades of archaeological experience across multiple continents, describes the region around AlUla and Hegra as truly astonishing.

"This is some of the most remarkable archaeology in the world," he states.

Linked civilizations

Old theories are being challenged, Ford notes.

"Historically, we assumed civilizations were less advanced and more isolated." But discoveries in AlUla, he says, point to the fact that "the ancient world was far more interconnected than we ever imagined."

Strangely, the theme of interconnectedness emerged as the overarching theme at the archaeological summit, with attendees seemingly enjoying the chance to step outside their usual fields and exchange insights, sharing both common and sometimes competing interests in their shared profession.

I attended the summit to moderate several of the discussion panels. The debates were lively at times, particularly when the focus turned to contentious issues such as the role archaeology plays in shaping identity and the ethical obligation of governments and archaeologists to present their findings truthfully, without distortion.

The urgency of protecting ancient artifacts from damage or everyday degradation sparked passionate debates. A set of best practices was agreed upon, which sought to balance governmental priorities with engaging local communities as active guardians of their heritage, respecting their cultural values.

It became apparent during the two-day event that there are no easy solutions, no universal approaches to these complex issues.

However, if the insights shared within the reflective walls of Maraya are taken to heart, Saudi Arabia’s journey toward archaeological maturity will certainly gain significant momentum.