When we think about civilizations of the past, it is incredible to discover the places where they flourished. River areas, natural fortifications, or places with abundant resources are ideal environments for settlement, but it is surprising to know that there were some peoples who prospered in the deserts. The old city of AlUla is an example of this, although of course it is a “trap” in some cases.

Located in an oasis valley, this place, closed for hundreds of years, is being rediscovered as one of humanity’s greatest treasures.

A walled oasis. AlUla or al-Ula is a ‘city’ located in the northwest of the Hejaz region in Saudi Arabia, the lung of past civilizations. The old town is located near an oasis that is the heart of the settlement and a wall surrounding the complex. This oasis dates back to B.C. It is estimated that it has been used as a settlement since 5,000 BC.

Thanks to the oasis, the city was built in B.C. due to the richness of the soil and the abundance of water in the region. It was founded in the 6th century. There were floods from time to time, but they designed a canal system. wings It allowed water to be transported to the fields. This results in approximately 2.3 million thousands of palm trees that produce more than 90,000 tons of dates per year.

about to disappear. AlUla was a major focal point, part of the ‘Incense Route’ connecting India and Egypt, and even a related stop on the railway; But what centuries of wars failed to achieve was a change of mentality. Due to changes in infrastructure standards in the 20th century, residents began to leave the city and move to another nearby town. The last family left in 1983.

Since this abandonment does not suit the building style of the old city, the houses are gradually deteriorating, but salvation seems to lie in tourism.

The old city of AlUla

An open air museum. The old city is called Ad-Deerah, and a few years ago a program was launched to turn the entire area into a tourist destination. There are cities in the region such as Hegra, which have rivaled the city of Petra for years, but treasures from ancient times can be found all over the region. Many ruins have been found since it was opened to tourism and archaeological research.

For example, B.C. Traces of dogs domesticated around 4,000 B.C., a 51-centimeter axe that is about 200,000 years old, and about 1,600 stone monuments from the Neolithic period. The ancient city itself is a monument, with more than 800 houses built in adobo, forming a peculiar labyrinth.

Maraya’s mirage. However, when it is desired to turn the region into a tourist destination in order to revitalize the region, new constructions can also be seen. And as if it were a mirage, the Maraya Museum stands as the largest mirrored building in the world. This place, which has 9,740 mirrors reflecting the rocks and orography around it and has an educational function, is also a center where cultural events such as concerts are held.

There is actually something unique about this building that gives the feeling of detachment from the landscape in photographs but is different in person: depending on when you visit the area, it will be more or less easy to discern that there is a view there. There is a huge building there. The aim was to honor the landscape, and one of the architects involved in its design stated: “If a building cannot compete with the landscape, it must enhance it.”

90% is still hidden. Because of this late rediscovery, archaeologists believe there is still much to discover. Atif Albalawi, one of the official guides of the AlUla region, says, “We have perhaps found only 10% of the history of this valley. In almost every cliff and mountain you can find both ancient inscriptions and drawings dating back thousands of years.” “.

It turns out that the general manager of AlUla Heritage is a Spaniard named José Ignacio Gallego. Gallego stated in 2023: “We devoted ourselves to scanning the area for two years. We surveyed the area with archaeologists, satellite images, helicopters, testimonies of elders… and before we had 50 archaeological sites, now we have 50,000.”

This is saying a lot, considering that more than 50,000 messages have been discovered among Neolithic petroglyphs and funerary inscriptions. Not to mention the natural heritage created by the valley itself and the rock formations in the area.

Pictures | Richard Mortel, Nesma and Partners

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