Saudi Gazette report

ALULA — New archaeological discoveries at Dadan in AlUla have shed fresh light on a long-missing chapter of northwest Arabia’s history, revealing evidence of continuous settlement between the Nabataean era and the early Islamic period.

A joint research team from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) has published the findings in Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, documenting human activity in Wadi al-Qura from the 3rd to the 7th centuries CE for the first time.

The period has long been considered a historical gap, with scholars traditionally assuming a decline in settled life across the region following the Nabataean era. The new evidence challenges that view.

A settlement that endured for centuries

The study draws on excavations carried out between 2021 and 2023 as part of the Dadan Archaeological Project, a collaboration between RCU, CNRS, and AFALULA.

Archaeologists uncovered a substantial architectural complex dating to the late 3rd or early 4th century CE, which remained in continuous use until the first half of the 7th century CE.

The site lies within the Dadan area, less than one kilometre south of the ancient city.

The discovery represents the first integrated archaeological proof of sustained settlement in Wadi al-Qura from the early 5th century up to the eve of the Islamic period.

Organised community and advanced planning

Excavations revealed a clearly structured settlement, including organised rooms and courtyards, a central square, and a sophisticated water-management system featuring a well, basin, and channels.

Evidence of agriculture, crop storage, food preparation, and craft activities points to a stable and well-organised community rather than a temporary or declining occupation.

Science-driven insights into daily life

The research team applied a multidisciplinary approach, combining ceramic and stone tool analysis, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, and geoarchaeology. Together, these methods provided new insights into diet, farming practices, and oasis life during a period of major regional transition.

Rewriting the history of Wadi al-Qura

The findings suggest that Wadi al-Qura did not experience a settlement hiatus between the 4th and 6th centuries CE, as previously believed. Instead, the region appears to have supported a continuous, socially and economically active community, maintaining architectural traditions and resource management systems up to the emergence of Islam.

Dr. Abdulrahman AlSuhaibani, Vice President of Culture within RCU’s Tourism Sector and a key contributor to the study, said the discoveries reveal a critical chapter in AlUla’s past.

“These findings show that AlUla was part of a vibrant settlement network in the centuries preceding Islam,” he said, noting that the research deepens understanding of social continuity in northwest Arabia.

The discovery reflects RCU’s commitment to advancing international archaeological research and expanding AlUla’s role as a global center for the study of Arabian history.