Saudi Gazette report

ABHA — The Heritage Commission, in partnership with Soudah Development Company, has announced the discovery of 20 rock formations bearing ancient inscriptions within the Soudah Peaks Project area.

The findings are considered among the oldest cultural evidence identified in the region, featuring rock carvings and inscriptions dating back an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 years.

Covering more than 636.5 square kilometers, the project area includes Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa Governorate, offering new insights into the deep historical and cultural roots of civilizations that once inhabited the area.

The inscriptions include Thamudic writings — epigraphic scripts attributed to the ancient Thamud tribe — alongside carvings depicting animals such as ibexes, hyenas and ostriches. Other scenes show hunters, dancers, palm trees and weapons, reflecting aspects of daily life, belief systems and environmental conditions in ancient times.

According to the commission, these discoveries confirm that Soudah and Rijal Almaa were long-standing centers of human settlement and cultural activity, playing a significant role in the region’s historical development.

The discoveries were made during a joint archaeological survey carried out under a memorandum of understanding between the Heritage Commission and Soudah Development Company.

The survey was conducted across four scientific phases, including data collection, site analysis, documentation and the identification of high-value archaeological locations, forming the basis for their protection and future development.