Archaeological Wonder: The Rediscovery of Mada'in Saleh

Going by its archival antecedents Mada'in Saleh earned the notoriety for disregarding Allah

For long, indeed for too long, the breathtaking rock-cut monumental tombs of Mada'in Saleh remained unknown to the outside world till it was resuscitated by the UNESCO and catalogued in the World Heritage List in 2008. Else, the 111 super-colossal tombs remained completely cloistral to the rest of the humanity. They stand testimony to the exceptional mastery of the Nabataeans’ rare architectural accomplishment. Not much is known about the Nabataeans, but suffice to say that they were one of the most gifted tribes of the ancient world. They constantly moved about the Arabian desert along with their herds to find pasture and water.

Unfortunately, except in academic and intellectual circles Mada'in Saleh scarcely figured in any fora let alone discuss over one of the most treasured spots on earth. Located in Al-Ula within the province of Al-Madinah, the Hejaz, Saudi Arabia, a majority of the Mada'in Saleh vestiges date back from the Nabatean kingdom in the first century AD. The site constituted the kingdom's southernmost and largest settlement after Petra, its capital.

Going by its archival antecedents Mada'in Saleh earned the notoriety for disregarding Allah. According to one version: The Quran placed settlement of the area by the Thamudi people during the days of Saleh, between those of Noah and Hud on one hand, and those of Abraham and Moses on the other. The Thamudis were punished by Allah for their practice of idol worship. Earthquake and lightning blasts almost decimated the Thamudi populace. Thereafter, the curse stuck Mada'in Saleh and for centuries people in that part of the world stayed away from it.

It was only in the beginning of the 20th century that the exploration of this site started, but no meaningful work was undertaken until 2001, when a Franco-Saudi archaeological mission was given the task of carrying out digs and documenting the site.

The archaeological vestiges of Mada’in Saleh are compared with those of Petra, the Nabatean capital. In the course of the findings Qasr al Farid emerged as the biggest tomb in archeological site. The sandstone outcrops were carved out to build the necropolis. The tombs decorated with fine inscriptions as well as artistic elements like birds, human faces and imaginary beings. Small wonder then, Mada'in Saleh is known as "The Capital of Monuments".