Saudis Struggle With How to Treat Pre-Islamic Artifacts Unearthed in Saudi Arabia

Last year a Saudi/French archeological team made a major discovery at Madain Saleh. Pottery and metal and wooden tools were unearthed at Al Diwan and at Ethlib mountain.

The discoveries at Madain Saleh pose something of a dilemma for Saudis. We Saudis are not particularly eager to look for pre-Islamic artifacts. There's a prevailing opinion among the conservatives that items not Islamic belong in the ground because displaying them risks a tacit endorsement of the culture or religion the artifacts represent.

We have a habit sealing off ancient sites from public view whether they are Islamic or non-Islamic. We have been known to neglect or destroy them. Saudis don't want to run the risk of turning a site into a place of idolatry. As a rule we minimize the publicity of such discoveries.

But as with most things, Saudis can't stop progress. And today there is a significant and successful campaign to develop an economically viable tourism industry that will create jobs and stimulate the economy, particularly in rural areas.

Add to that is the fact that Madain Saleh was named in 2008 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Madain Saleh is now open to visitors. The Saudi Commission on Tourism and Antiquities, under Secretary General Sultan Bin Salman, and the National French Research Center are continuing excavation efforts. An American team also is participating.

The teams are restoring what has been found and electronic software is being used to record the excavation and restoration efforts. The work is continuing and it's certain that more items will be unearthed.

Once the Saudi government finds its footing in establishing a consistent tourism program and becomes more flexible in granting visas to Muslims and non-Muslims to visit the Kingdom, Madain Saleh should become a key component in developing a thriving tourism sector.

But offering Madain Saleh as a tourism stop is not a problem. It was first inhabited by the people of Thamud who are mentioned prominently in the Qur'an. But what of the non-Muslim sites? Like most Saudis, I know little of pre-Islamic sites, although occasionally amateur archeologists come across such places. Frankly, it's gross negligence to destroy or hide these discoveries. The government in recent years has taken positive steps to recover and catalog artifacts, but there's a disagreement with what to do with them once they are found.

It's right that churches are not permitted in the Land of the Two Holy Mosques. But what's less certain is whether crucifixes, if found, should be destroyed or hidden. More precisely is the issue of whether Christian or Jewish artifacts can be displayed in the proper context in a Saudi museum as an acknowledgment of a people who called pre-Islamic Arabia their home.

My guess is that most Saudis will say no. Many Saudis believe there is no place in the Kingdom for such relics.

The Associated Press the other day reported that Sheikh Mohammed Al Nujaimi said non-Muslim artifacts "should be left in the ground." He said that Muslims would not tolerate the display of non-Muslim religious symbols. "How can crosses be displayed when Islam doesn't recognize that Christ was crucified?" he said. "If we display them, it's as if we recognize the crucifixion."

Most Saudis probably agree, although the argument can be made that displaying an ancient cross doesn't necessarily recognize that Christ was crucified but only acknowledges a previous non-Muslim civilization.

Religious symbols aside, there is a precedent in showcasing pre-Islamic items. The museum in Riyadh has a number of pre-Islamic statues. And Riyadh's King Saudi University has similar items.

This is a sensitive time for Saudi Arabia. We have made tentative steps with the international community by promoting inter-faith dialogue. We have been diligent in sending young university students to other countries where they learn of other cultures. We are throwing open the doors of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to the world's best researchers and scientists. Developing a policy to deal with non-Muslim antiquities is a logical step towards continuing to bridge cultural gaps.

Perhaps displays of such artifacts are not the solution, but it's not unthinkable.

Comments

[stephenlight]

Why is it right that Churches are not allowed in the Land of the Two Holy Mosques? Are there not mosques in Rome? Interesting, and very illuminating difference.

[111]

All organized religion is the enemy of truth, science and knowledge. Always has been and always will be.

[jordanispalestine]

trying this again..they'll do what most Muslim nations do to suppress the fact that someone else was there first...just build over it or throw it away!!

[Macready]

I just found this on the web: "The tombs were carved on yellow sandstone rocks or mountains separated by hundreds of meters; some were small and had only one tomb while others were huge with many tombs carved all around their sides. The tomb facades were finely etched with decorative elements showing Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, and Roman influences, but the interior chambers were plain. The main chambers were about four to six square miles in area with smaller niches on their sides. Some facades had plates on top of the entrances providing information about the grave owners, the religious system, and the masons who carved them - a feature that distinguishes them from those in Petra."

They sound incredible . . . the Saudis need to treasure their history . . . it is part of their heritage . . . part of who they are now . . . the Egyptians treasure their history . . . they do not worship their old gods . . . I was not interested in visiting Saudi Arabia before . . thought it too modern . . now I am but then I love ancient history.

[jordanispalestine]

the sooner you go,the better!

[jamiso]

I feel bad for you guys.... living in such a constant state of silliness. Man, when that oil runs out.....its going to be rough.

[Paula Ann]

save your pity, there's plenty of solar energy potential

[jamiso]

uh... ya...not sure if you know how this works, but you cant export "sun light".....

[Saudi]

As a Saudi i have to say that Saudi Arabia is a country ruled mostly by few religious poeple, although the government and even the royal family are trying so hard to move forward they can't stand against them or even ignore them.. we are also suffering as locals too..

If you ask any TRULY religious "not to be confused with religious fanatics" in any part of the world including Saudi Arabia you'll find that its perfectly normal and allowed in Islam to resreve and display artifacts remains as long as they are displayed it their proper place such as a museum so it wont be worshiped, And i believe its the opinoin of the majority of Saudies..

For people who are saying "Saudi's hate" i have to say that a muslim SHOULD respects and treats well people from other beliefs and cultures specialy Christians and Jews like their own brothers and sisters and if you don't you are not a true Muslim..

Thank you so much for reading my comment and i hope that i've helped or at least expressed myself well..

Kindest Regards,

[Paula Ann]

Ramadan Kareem, Saudi

You expressed yourself well (much better than I could in Arabic, or any other language for that matter).

During my time in al-Riyadh I found what you say to be absolutely true. I have not traveled extensively, but found Saudi's to be the most hospitable, generous people with a surprisingly good sense of humor (we sure don't think of you all like that). I would also like to say that in discussion of the politics of the region, I never once heard a Saudi make a disparaging remark about Jews.

Thanks again for the post.
Sabah al-khair

[GentleScotty]

Masah al-khair, Paula Ann.

You are spot on.

[jordanispalestine]

What about the Madrassas they fund ..as long as the radicals leave the Royals alone???

[blueline2]

I spent many, many years in Saudi Arabia-once in the 60's and once in the 80's. I lived in Saudi society-not in an isolated company or embassy compound. If the Saudis ever display the same consideration and tolerance that they demand from others, then I can respect their 'dilemna' in handling of the past in the Arabian peninsula.

Saudis demand that mosques be allowed in Rome, in Paris, all over the world. Rome is a holy place for Christians. If there can be a mosque in Rome, why can there not be a Christian church in Jeddah, or Riyadh or El Khobar? There are churches in most other countries in Islam and your religion is never threatened by them. Why can you not respect the religions of others, and allow them to practice them? The 'idolatry' argument is hollow-the Taliban blew up some fantastic Buddhist sites-as far as I'm concerned, if you are destroying early christian artifacts, you are no better than they are.

[Paula Ann]

as I understand it, the whole of KSA is considered "Land of Islam", much like the Vatican is sacrosanct to Catholics. Who are we to say what limits they put on their territory? Surely a mosque or synagogue would not be allowed in the Vatican. Saudi's allow each Christian one Bible but do prohibit prostelitizing.

[stephenlight]

Yes. Quite illuminating. And wherever Islam predominates, it becomes the "Land of Islam" and preaching of other faiths is prohibited. A one way street that you prefer not to see.

[WilliamL]

As a Human Being I really appreciate the efforts of so some of the Saudi's and Muslim community to

understand the rest of the non-Muslim Human Race.

Thanks, Safe Journeys, and Peace to you and those making an effort.

It is a start I suppose.

No offense, but those outfits scare the hell out of some of us.

How about some some J Crew, Ralph Lauren, something a little more light and breezy, all that black is a real downer.

that is a sarecasm and truth mixed into one,

in an effot of greater understand­ing.......­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­.

[hanoum]

Ramadan Kareem, Sabria...........
Surely, the Saudi people, reading the Quran, recognize that Jews and Christians, and others once lived in the Arabian Peninsula and that some of their artifacts remain. I hope those making decisions on this matter will realize that Saudi's are adults with the mentality to intergrate the history of their country.

[GentleScotty]

Ramadan Kareem, hanoum.

The Quran refers to Christians and Jews as "people of the book".
I don't see the reasoning that prevents displaying discovered antiquities from the ages previous to Islam.

[jordanispalestine]

Like in Israel??where the Arabs built right on top of the remains of the Jews' most holy site..The Second Temple??

[Paula Ann]

Greetings G.S.,
When I was in Saudi, I was much younger and much more timid. Discussing similar matters with a dear Austrailian friend who had been there much longer and was very intuned to the society, she replied that much of the population was not exposed to education beyond their own community. According to my friend, it was felt that antiquities and relics would be interpreted without serious examination and interpretation and mythologies would attributed to them. I couldn't quote to you literacy rates at the time, but it seems to me since the majority of the population was living in tents and villages into the 70's, that makes sense. In so far as the teachings of the Quran are built on the teachings of the Torah and Bible and the Saudi people are much more educated than just 20 years ago, I can see no reason that these antiquites should not be displayed. However, there is a "Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" who have a very anti-progressive view of the world, and they hold huge sway with the Royal Family.

This is not a scholarly reply; just speculation on what I have seen and heard. Thanks for posing your question in a non-confro­ntational, civil manner.

[altohone]

Denial of the past is sad whatever the reason.

Focus on the positive if you want, but if "most" wouldn't want these items displayed because they might threaten their beliefs, I believe an argument could be made about mass paranoia and insecurity.
This seems so contrary to the image of Saudis so confident in their beliefs.
I'd love to hear more about what's behind this.


I hope too that even you may one day accept that churches of any religion can be welcomed without dishonoring Islam... maybe even welcome athiests too.
It's a big world, and you can let it in without losing your identity.

[Ameriki]

The Saudi government buried a church to protect it from Western expatriates taking pieces of it as souvenirs. Buried, not destroyed. But in Mecca historical buildings have been razed to make room for hotels.

[RumiSouth]

"Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. In this way every prediction made by the Party could be shown by documentary evidence to have been correct; nor was any item of news, or any expression of opinion, which conflicted with the needs of the moment, ever allowed to remain on record. All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary."

--George Orwell, "1984"

Excuse my nausea at the destruction of historical artifacts for ANY agenda.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

Perhaps they could givet these articles on permanent loan to other countries, for them to display in a more acceptable location.

[fbr79]

Yes, let's all bow to the Saudis hate.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

The subject is their belief system, and I was proposing a solution that would allow these artifacts to be displayed. Judicious sharing might also serve to ease international tensions in some small way. You're the one who made it about hate.