This exhibition represents a milestone in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it coincides with the fifteenth anniversary of naming the stone as the first site of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. UNESCO World Heritage in the country.
The reconstruction was conducted by a team of archaeologists, forensic scientists and model makers under the auspices of the Saudi Royal Commission for Al-Ula. The reconstructed woman was baptized Hinat His remains were discovered in 2015, in a cemetery in the city of Hegra. It was once an important trading center for the Nabataeans, who lived in the south of the Levant and the north of the Arabian Peninsula from the fourth century BC to the second century AD, showing their remarkable skills in engineering and controlling the trade routes that passed through their lands.
Re-enactment of Hanat, a Nabataean woman (Image credit: Royal Commission for Al-Ula)
What makes this find even more significant are the items found next to Hinat’s remains, including a silver mirror, a set of ivory combs, and a necklace made of gold and precious stones. These artifacts indicate that she held an important position in Nabataean society. In the latter, women played an active role in the economy, held positions of power in their communities, participated in religious ceremonies, and received education and training in various fields, including music and poetry.
Helen McGauran“For many people, this civilization remains very mysterious,” said the head of the reconstruction project.
“I hope that this project will allow people to interact with the faces, personalities and history of the Nabataeans in a much deeper way than has been achieved before,” she adds.
Who are the Nabataeans?
The Nabataean kingdom, where the remains of Hannat were discovered, was once an important trade center, controlling the lucrative frankincense trade from southern Arabia. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Petra, an ancient city located in present-day Jordan, famous for its magnificent architecture carved into rocks and unique scripts, used to write Aramaic, the lingua franca of the ancient Near East.
The Nabati script is considered the pioneer of modern Arabic calligraphy, and many of its letters and characteristics are found in modern writing. The script was also used for inscriptions on tombs, buildings, and other public facilities, as well as for commercial and administrative purposes, such as recording business transactions and tracking taxes and financial transactions.
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