Located around three kilometers northwest of the city of Al Ula, Jabal Ikmah is considered the open library of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it contains hundreds of inscriptions, writings, and drawings on the cliffs and rocky facades that can be dated back to the Dadani and Lihyan periods. The mountain has a narrow valley and is dark reddish in color.
Importance of the inscriptions
The inscriptions provide us with an insight into the Kingdom of Lihyan, its civilization, the ancient Arab Lihyan society, its culture, and religious beliefs. It also paints quite an accurate picture of the economic situation, tax and tax systems, and the relationship of the Lihyanites with others in the Arabian Peninsula, both commercially and politically. Archeologists have also identified many of the names of important personalities, deities, and rulers from these drawings and inscriptions.
Some of the most famous places mentioned in the Jabal Ikmah inscriptions are Badr, where the battle of Badr took place, and Tha’al, which is a valley that extends south of Al-Dha’ib and has a fountain called Al-Tha’al.
All and all, Ikmah Heritage mountain (Jabal Ikmah) is a history buff’s dream destination. If you are interested in learning about ancient Arabian history, this is the place to be.
