Arabian Rock Art Heritage

The Application of Advanced Imaging Technology to Saudi Arabian Rock Art

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  • Humans
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  • Domestic Cattle at Qaryat al-Asba

    • Domestic Cattle

      The domestic cattle depicted in Saudi rock art are similar in appearance to those shown in Egyptian art from the New Kingdom. Their horns are relatively long, lyre-shaped and more or less vertical. There is often a small bump at the shoulders most likely reflecting elongated thoracic spines, rather than a true hump like that found in Zebu cattle from India.

      • Jubbah Woman Detail: Domestic Cattle

        Click here to download the PTM file. Desktop RTI viewers can be downloaded from Cultural Heritage Imaging.

        • Domestic Cattle Panel, Jubbah

          Click here to download the PTM file. Desktop RTI viewers can be downloaded from Cultural Heritage Imaging.

          • Hoodoo, Bir Hima

            A delicately balanced block of sandstone (or hoodoo) at the top of this hill attracted the attention of ancient artists in southern Saudi Arabia.

Stories in the Rocks

Saudi Arabia possesses world-class rock art in a dazzling desert landscape replete with majestic natural formations. Stories in the Rocks: Exploring Saudi Arabian Rock Art is a beautifully illustrated book written in an easily accessible manner. Its goal is to enlighten readers about the records created by ancient artists on the sandstone cliffs and outcrops distributed widely down Saudi Arabia from north to south.

Layan Cultural Foundation Project

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© Sandra L. Olsen