AlUla strengthens its position as a global venue for culture and heritage this week with its invitation-only AlUla World Archaeological Summit.
The summit’s three-day program of panels, discussions and excursions kicked off yesterday at the Maraya Concert Hall, the ancient region’s giant mirror-covered multi-purpose hall, set amid a wealth of archaeological treasures from from the Neolithic era until the beginning of the 20th century.
Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla and running until September 15, the three-day summit brings together global experts in art, culture and heritage from around the world, among more than 80 speakers.
The first panel, titled “Our Form: Archaeology, Identity,” asked how, in the modern world, where many conventional definitions are obsolete, can archeology challenge and expand self-identities , family, communities and nations? How can archeology collaborate with other disciplines to achieve this? The session also explored the different ways in which archeology can help shape identities.
HIGHLIGHTS
This exclusive event is part of RCU’s regeneration of AlUla as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage, with archaeological research and conservation being key aspects of the project to attract 2 million visitors per year by 2035.
Among those expected at the summit are Bettany Hughes, the British historian and presenter of numerous documentaries on ancient history, and Levison Wood, a world-renowned explorer, writer and photographer who is the author of 11 best-selling books and has produced several critically acclaimed documentaries.
As Alessandro Sebastiani, associate professor of Roman archeology and director of graduate studies in the Department of Classics at the University at Buffalo, said: “We want to keep archeology accessible to everyone. Identity is about moving cultures. You create your identity.
This exclusive event is part of RCU’s regeneration of AlUla as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage, with archaeological research and conservation being key aspects of the project to attract 2 million visitors per year by 2035.
“The AlUla World Archeology Summit is attracting great interest worldwide, with speakers from all over the world, from America and Australia to Jordan and Japan,” said Abdulrahman Al-Suhaibani, executive director of archaeology, conservation and collections at RCU, adding that they will share knowledge on the summit’s four themes: identity, ruinscapes, resilience and accessibility. Their presence aligns with AlUla’s legacy as a crossroads of civilizations, “where people exchanged ideas from all over.”
Rebecca Foote, director of archeology and cultural heritage research at RCU, told Arab News: “We wanted the summit to be interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral.
“Rather than focusing on the specific data everyone is looking to report, the summit is more about the issues, challenges and opportunities facing archaeologists around the world and how other sectors can help improve our field or to transform it to create a better world. .”
The summit brings together archaeologists, artists and cultural practitioners from around the world, including the Kingdom, with visual artist Manal Al-Dowayan; Jasir Al-Herbish, CEO of the Heritage Commission; Daif Allah Al-Talhi, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, Hail University; and Suleiman Al-Theeb, professor emeritus of ancient Arabic scripts and languages at King Saud University, were present.
Other luminaries scheduled to attend the summit include Bettany Hughes, the British historian and presenter of numerous documentaries on ancient history, and Levison Wood, a world-renowned explorer, writer and photographer who is the author of 11 best-selling books and has produced several critically acclaimed documentaries.
Panel discussions range from those focusing on heritage and ancient discoveries to the use of technology and AI, such as “Archaeology weaves an interconnected world” and “Saving archeology a TikTok à la times “.
Delegates will be able to take part in excursions through AlUla’s main heritage sites, many of which are also the subject of active archaeological excavations. These include the Nabatean Tombs of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
“We want the summit to address how archeology can become more relevant to society,” Foote added. “How can it contribute to the global good across a variety of sectors by addressing key themes of identity, resilience, crumbling landscapes and accessibility. »
“There are people coming from all over the world, from Australia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Saudi Arabia,” Foote said.
The summit aims to marry the past with the present and once again use AlUla as an international cultural hub for intellectual discourse.
