Latest news with #SaudiHeritageCommission
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Earliest Evidence of Psychoactive Substance Use Found in Tomb
Archaeologists working in the Tabuk province of Arabia have found the earliest documented evidence of the ritual application of a psychoactive substance, according to a new study published in Communications investigating a tomb comprising several rooms at the oasis settlement of Qurayyah, scientists came across organic residue inside stone burners and fumigation equipment found throughout the crypt. During an analysis, they were able to identify three extremely potent beta-carboline alkaloids—harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine—by using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Those alkaloids were chemical signatures of Peganum harmala, which contains psychoactive and anti-inflammatory properties and is still used throughout the Middle East and Central Asia as a medical remedy. The researchers believe that, in addition to being buried with the deceased, Peganum harmala was smoked as part of visionary or purification rituals, which took place after burials."This is the first direct chemical proof of Syrian rue being used in a funerary context anywhere in the world," said lead author Barbara Huber. "Our results demonstrate that individuals in Iron Age Arabia were already experimenting with sophisticated plant-based pharmacologies, not just for healing, but for ritual and sensory transformation." Marta Luciani, the dig's co-director, agreed. "This totally reworks our perception of early Arabian cultures," she explained. 'It represents a cognitive and cultural level of sophistication, where religious and therapeutic spheres interacted in significant, ritualized contexts."The discovery recontextualizes what many researchers thought about Arabian societies, revealing that they were engaged in similar ritualistic practices to cultures in Central Asia, South America, and the Indus Valley. "We are not preserving artifacts, said Ahmed M. Abualhassan, of the Saudi Heritage Commission. 'We are restoring wisdom that continues to reside in oral traditions, domestic habit, and ancestral rituals.'Earliest Evidence of Psychoactive Substance Use Found in Tomb first appeared on Men's Journal on May 29, 2025
Arab News
6 days ago
- Science
- Arab News
Saudi-French archeological mission uncovers ancient sites on Farasan Island
RIYADH: A joint Saudi-French archeological mission to excavate ancient sites on Farasan Island, in the Jazan region, has been concluded by the Heritage Commission. The initiative, in collaboration with Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University, featured a team of experts from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It aimed to reveal settlement phases and chronological sequences at the excavation sites — Qusar, Ghurrayn, and Wadi Shami, which date from the first to third centuries — as well as study various burial grounds. The work is part of a scientific project highlighting the historical and strategic importance of the Farasan archipelago, particularly its key role in maritime trade across the Red Sea through various historical periods. It included male and female students from national universities, as well as participants from Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University. Previous excavations under the same project, which took place from 2011 to 2024, have yielded significant findings dating back to the Bronze Age and the periods of Southern Arabian states. Discoveries have included watchtowers and industrial sites believed to be remnants of a camp dating back to the second century B.C. The findings underscore the rich cultural exchange that took place on Farasan Island, highlighting its pivotal role in connecting Southern Arabian civilizations with those of the Mediterranean. Prehistoric shell mounds and human settlements further emphasize the islands' historical significance.
Saudi Gazette
7 days ago
- Science
- Saudi Gazette
Long-serving Saudi-French archaeological mission ends tenure after 20 years in Farasan Islands
Saudi Gazette report JAZAN — The Saudi Heritage Commission has concluded a joint archaeological excavation with France in the Farasan Islands, unveiling new discoveries that shed light on the region's ancient human settlements and strategic role in Red Sea maritime trade. Conducted in collaboration with Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the fieldwork targeted key archaeological sites at Al-Qassar, Al-Ghureen, and Wadi Shami. The mission aimed to study burial sites, trace settlement phases, and understand the historical context of human activity in the southern Red Sea archipelago. The expedition included archaeology and anthropology experts, along with students from Saudi universities and Paris 1, as part of a supervised field training program. The Saudi-French partnership began in 2005 with a comprehensive survey and documentation of architectural structures across Farasan. Since then, successive excavation campaigns from 2011 to 2024 have led to significant discoveries, including remains from the Bronze Age, evidence of South Arabian kingdoms, watchtowers, and industrial installations believed to be remnants of a 2nd-century BCE military camp used to monitor and protect maritime trade routes. These discoveries underscore Farasan's pivotal role in connecting ancient civilizations of South Arabia and the Mediterranean, as reflected in the spread of human settlements and prehistoric shell mounds across the islands. The Heritage Commission continues to advance archaeological research and preservation through broad international collaborations, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's presence on the global archaeological map and contributing to the goals of sustainable cultural development.
Arab News
24-05-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Earliest use of harmal plant discovered in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk
RIYADH: A study published in the journal Communications Biology has revealed the earliest known use of the harmal plant (peganum harmala) — dating back about 2,700 years to the Iron Age — is based on findings from the ancient settlement of Qurayyah in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk region, according to the Saudi Heritage Commission. The research was conducted jointly by the Saudi Heritage Commission, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and the University of Vienna in Austria. It examined the therapeutic and social aspects of ancient practices in the Arabian Peninsula. Using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, researchers analyzed organic residues inside pottery incense burners and detected alkaloids from the harmal plant, providing evidence of its use in fumigation rituals for therapeutic purposes. The harmal plant, known locally as rue, is recognized for its antibacterial and healing properties. Its use at Qurayyah suggests early medicinal knowledge and traditional practices in the region. This discovery highlights the cultural and therapeutic traditions of the Arabian Peninsula and helps to support the commission's collaboration with international researchers. The study aligns with the Saudi Ministry of Culture's efforts to promote research that advances the understanding of history and the cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Heritage Commission Reveals Oldest Known Use of Harmal Plant in Human History
A landmark scientific study published in the international "Communications Biology" journal revealed the earliest known use of the harmal plant (Peganum harmala), dating back around 2,700 years to the Iron Age, based on archaeological findings from the ancient settlement of Qurayyah in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Region, according to a Saudi Heritage Commission press release, SPA reported. Conducted as part of a joint research effort by the Saudi Heritage Commission, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and the University of Vienna in Austria, the study explores the therapeutic and social dimensions of ancient practices in the Arabian Peninsula, underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to advancing scientific understanding of its cultural heritage. Using high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), researchers performed advanced chemical analyses on organic residues preserved inside pottery incense burners. These analyses detected alkaloids from the harmal plant, providing physical evidence of its use in fumigation rituals for therapeutic purposes. The harmal plant, also known locally as rue, is recognized for its antibacterial and healing properties. Its documented use at Qurayyah not only reflects early medicinal knowledge but also highlights the continuity of traditional practices in the region. This discovery further underscores the longstanding cultural and therapeutic traditions of the Arabian Peninsula and demonstrates the Saudi Heritage Commission's ongoing commitment to international research collaboration. This research aligns with the broader goals of the Saudi Ministry of Culture to support pioneering initiatives that contribute to the global understanding of human history and to reframe the cultural legacy of the Arabian Peninsula through a modern scientific lens.
