While Madain Saleh is finally meeting the fame it deserves, a nearby archaeological site located 25 kilometers to the south, Dedan, is also of great interest. Not only for the extent of the remains of this ancient oasis city that once thrived there, but also because its history is much older than the neighboring Madain Saleh.

The Ancient Oasis City of Dedan

Dedan is an ancient oasis city that was once the capital of one of the oldest kingdoms of Arabia, along with Tayma. It is located in today’s town of Khuraybah, at the bottom of the cliffs of Jebel Ath-Thumayd (also called Jebel Dedan), a sandstone massif that stands on the eastern side of the valley where the modern city of Al-Ula lies, in Madinah Province.

The ancient city of Dedan benefited from both its strategic location along the ancient frankincense trade road between ancient Yemen and the Levant and the abundant underground water resources. The quality of the remains in this ancient site is a vibrant testimony to the richness, extent, and intensity of the caravan trade of the early 1st millennium BCE, as influences were found from all great empires of the ancient Middle East.

History of the Ancient Oasis of Dedan

An Oasis Populated in Ancient Times

Some ancient carvings found on the cliffs on both the east and west sides of the nearby modern city of Al-Ula show that this area was inhabited from at least the Bronze Age (3rd and 2nd millennia BCE).

It is believed that the historical importance of Dedan as an active kingdom playing a vital cultural and commercial role in the northwest region of the Arabian Peninsula goes back to the early 2nd millennium BCE and probably continued during the second part of the second millennium BCE when northwest Arabia was dominated by the Madianites (whose capital may have been Bada’ 25 kilometers east of the Gulf of Aqaba).

A Major Trade City

The oldest written reference to Dedan is in inscriptions discovered in another ancient oasis called Tayma, dated to the 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, at least five centuries before the rise of the Nabatean Madain Saleh. These inscriptions evoke a war that broke out between Dedan and Tayma at that time. The frankincense trade originating from Yemen was already very active, and Dedan was building its wealth from taxes and rights of way that were levied on each caravan in exchange for protection and supplies.

The second indication is provided by the inscription of the Harran stela, from the mid-6th century BCE, on which Nabonidus, the last king of Babylon, relates his conquest and control of Dedan (and Tayma), probably between 552 and 539 BCE.

The role of Dedan as a vital link between the south of the Arabian Peninsula and ancient empires of Persia, Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Egypt is also attested to in some South Arabian inscriptions incised on the stone stelae erected in the square of the temple of Rasafem, at Ma’in (ancient Qarna in today’s Yemen) that mentions Dedan, the country, and its people.

These inscriptions record marriages between a group of individuals belonging to the tribes of Ma’in and Dedanite women, which proves that Dedan was an independent entity bound by marriages into tribes and kingdoms of the southern Arabian Peninsula. More than 60 Minaic inscriptions (South Arabian script) carved in Dedan and its surroundings prove there was even a trading Minaic colony established in Dedan.

It is believed that the ancient script used by the people of Dedan – called Dedanitic – was derived from the Minaic script.

The Rise of Lihyan

Inscriptions found at the archaeological site show that between the mid-5th century BCE and the mid-4th century BCE (dates are still being debated by scholars), the expression ‘king of Dedan’ is replaced by ‘kings of Lihyan’. This change reflects the growing importance of the Lihyanite tribes, which contributed to the decline of Dedan’s historical role and the submission of its population to the new power.

The oldest mention of Lihyan comes from a Sabaic text in Yemen, which records the travels of a Sabean merchant during a trading expedition to Cyprus. This text, dated to the first half of the first millennium BCE, suggests that the name Lihyan stood for a tribe that pre-existed the kingdom of Lihyan, which had not yet conquered the oasis.

Although the Lihyanite kingdom took over power in northwestern Arabia, they continued using the Dadanic script and language. The inscriptions allow us to estimate the minimal duration of the Lihyanite kingdom by adding the regnal years of all the ‘kings of Lihyan’ they mention. Currently, at least twelve kings are known, with a total of 199 known regnal years.

The Lihyanites were also farmers, thanks to the plentiful water and fertile soil. Agricultural produce was actually the main source of the kingdom’s wealth. The Greek geographer from the 2nd century BCE, Eratosthenes, described the country as a region growing palms, prickly bushes, and tamarisk.

The Fall of Lihyan

It is still debated how long the people of Lihyan controlled northwestern Arabia, but a stone stela found in Tayma bearing the name of a Lihyanite king (Talmi) testifies that in the 3rd century BCE, their power extended all the way to Tayma. Later, the Roman geographer Pliny the Elder, who lived in the 1st century BCE, reported that the Gulf of Aqaba was called the “Gulf of Lihyan”, proof of the Lihyanites’ influence that extended south to the ancient Yathrib (today’s Madinah).

The process that led to the takeover of the area by the Nabateans (based in Madain Saleh) and its dating remain uncertain. A violent earthquake causing the collapse of buildings at the beginning of the first century BCE is plausible but not proven. It is unclear whether the Nabateans caused the fall of the Lihyanite kingdom, if they filled a power vacuum after the kingdom collapsed, or if these two powers co-existed for some time. The timing of this possible takeover is also debated, with estimates ranging from the mid-second century BCE until the first century CE.

Later Arabian sources merely name the place of Dedan. One of the rare examples was provided by the famous biographer and geographer of the 13th century CE (7th century AH), Yaqut Al-Hamawi, who wrote: “Dedan, on the road of Balqa, near Hijaz, was a beautiful city in ruins”.

But the history of the Lihyanites was not over. After they lost Dedan, they took over other areas of Hejaz, such as Rajih, located between the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah. With the advent of Islam, they were overthrown by the Prophet Mohammed during a campaign known as the “conquest of Banu Lihyan”. The name of the tribe of Lihyan still exists, and today there are still some Lihyanites living southeast of Makkah.

Dedan in Holy Scriptures

Dedan and the nearby ancient oasis of Tayma appear in numerous religious texts, highlighting their importance as caravan trade cities.

Dedan in the Pentateuch

In several books of the Pentateuch, Dedan is mentioned both as a place and a tribe. In Genesis, the origins of the Dedanites are indicated: sometimes they are described as Semites, descendants of Abraham, and other times as Hamites, descendants of Cush. Regardless of their lineage, they are always depicted as belonging to a well-organized state that played a significant role in the political and economic life of the Arabian Peninsula.

Dedan in the Book of Ezekiel

The Book of Ezekiel mentions that the Dedanites were active in transporting and selling merchandise in the Mediterranean regions. They are also associated with the Sabaeans, who, according to sources, transported wares from their territories in the southern Arabian Peninsula to different regions of the ancient world during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE.

The Ancient City of Dedan

The archaeological site of the ancient city of Dedan is located in today’s Khuraybah, at the bottom of the cliffs of Jebel Ath-Thumayd, also known as Jebel Dedan.

Key Features of the Site

  • Fortified Palace: To the north of the archaeological site is a square, fortified palace with four towers dating back to the 1st millennium BCE. An Arabic Kufic inscription shows it was reused during the early Islamic era.
  • Residential Area: To the south is the main excavation area, corresponding to the residential area of the ancient city where dwellings built more than 2,000 years ago are now visible.
  • Ritual and Ceremonial Area: This area includes a large courtyard connected with a temple, stone terraces, and a large rectangular temple measuring 16 meters long and 13.2 meters wide. A terrace supported by four rectangular stone pillars leads into the center of the sanctuary.

Ritual Basin

A wide basin cut into the rock forms a perfect circle, 3.75 meters in diameter and almost 2.15 meters deep, with a capacity of almost 27,000 liters. Inside, three steps carved in the rock make it easier to descend. This basin was likely used for ritual ablutions linked to the principal temple of Dedan, probably consecrated to the Lihyanite deity Dhu Ghabat.

Monumental Statues (continued)

An exceptional series of monumental statues, as tall as 4 meters, with their stone pedestals, originally placed under porticoes, once stood in Dedan. These statues are among the most impressive remains of the city. They stood full-face, arms hanging down, fists closed, legs aligned, and steadied by a dorsal pillar to below the waist. Several of these statues are of the sovereigns of Lihyan, as indicated by inscriptions on their bases, while others represent local deities, enabling the monarchs and deities to be symbolically part of religious ceremonies and ritual offerings.

Influence of Ptolemaic Egypt

Interestingly, archaeologists have identified some characterizations of Ptolemaic Egypt, showing the ties between Dedan and ancient Egypt.

Discoveries by Jaussen and Savignac

The remains of four of these statues were discovered by the French travelers Jaussen and Savignac during their first mission in Arabia in 1909. Since then, excavations carried out by King Saud University Archaeology Department teams have led to the discovery of over ten of these sculptures. Jaussen and Savignac also discovered a lion sculpture in the vestiges of the religious center of Dedan, whose stylization and detailing show the influence of Mesopotamian styles of sculpture, particularly Hittite and Assyrian.

Artefacts of Daily Life and Religious Rites

Further excavations in the temple and adjoining constructions of Dedan have unearthed numerous artefacts related to daily life and religious practices. These include:

  • Stone Perfume Burners: Found in various forms.
  • Sacrificial Tables and Basins: Used in religious ceremonies.
  • Kitchen Utensils and Cooking Pots: Indicating daily domestic activities.
  • Scales and Lamps: Essential for trade and daily use.
  • Bronze Articles and Tools: For various uses, including crushing.
  • Precious Items: A collection of beads made from stone, amber, glass paste, or shells.
  • Clay Figurines of Camels: Reflecting the significance of camels in their culture.

The Vastness of Ancient Dedan

The ancient city of Dedan was likely much more extensive than the current archaeological site reveals, possibly spreading throughout the entire valley where the modern city of Al-Ula is now located. The Musa Ibn Nusayr Fort, standing in the middle of the Heritage Village of Al-Ula, was probably a fortified Lihyanite place, as evidenced by the discovery of Lihyanite coins there.

The Necropolis

Upon entering the archaeological site, visitors can see squared holes on the sides of Jebel Ath-Thumayid (Jebel Dedan). These tombs, cut at different heights into the mountain, date back to approximately the 5th century BCE, around the time of the Lihyanite takeover.

  • Interior Installations: Some tombs feature carved hollows in the walls or ground.
  • Individual Graves: Ordinary graves cut into the base of the mountain, some bearing inscriptions identifying their owners.
  • Exceptional Tombs: About 1 kilometer south of the main excavation site, two tombs decorated with carved lions indicate the importance of their owners, likely governors or influential people. These lion sculptures reflect Mesopotamian influence.

Ancient Inscriptions

The people of Dedan spoke a specific dialect and developed their own script called Dedanitic, used from at least the 6th century BCE until the 1st century CE. This script was derived from the South Arabian script, Minaic, brought by merchants from Ma’in who settled in Dedan.

  • King Saud University Excavations: Many inscriptions dating between the 6th and 2nd centuries BCE have been identified, revealing aspects of the cultural history of Dedan and Lihyan.
  • Royal and Votive Inscriptions: Inscriptions in the name of Dedanite sovereign Asi and votive inscriptions dedicated to the deities of the temple of Dedan.
  • Local Laws: Texts recording local laws.
  • Ekma Inscriptions: The most impressive site of Dedanitic inscriptions is Ekma, 3 kilometers northwest of Al-Ula, with 196 texts.

Visiting Dedan

The location of Dedan is indicated on Google Maps under the modern name, Khuraybah. The entrance is from the Ha’il road (75) east of the junction with the 375 that goes through the city of Al-Ula.

Since 2018, the site can be visited only during the Winter at Tantora festival. More information is available on the festival’s dedicated website. The site is quite large, and cars are allowed, with a path through the archaeological site.

 

Local Insights

Incorporating local stories and lesser-known facts can truly enrich your blog about Dedan, making it more engaging and unique. Here are some local insights and intriguing details to consider:

The Legend of Musa Ibn Nusayr Fort

The Musa Ibn Nusayr Fort, standing in the Heritage Village of Al-Ula, is not just a historical structure but a symbol of the region’s rich past. Local legends suggest that this fort was a strategic lookout point during the Lihyanite period. The discovery of Lihyanite coins here supports the idea that it was a fortified place of significance. Sharing these local legends can provide a more vivid picture of the fort’s historical importance.

The Hidden Water Channels

Beneath the sands of Dedan, there are ancient water channels that once supplied the city with its vital water resources. These channels, known locally as “qanats,” were ingeniously designed to transport water from underground sources to the surface. Highlighting these lesser-known engineering marvels can showcase the advanced techniques used by the ancient inhabitants of Dedan.

The Story of the Lion Tombs

The lion tombs, located about 1 kilometer south of the main excavation site, are adorned with intricate carvings of lions. According to local stories, these lions were not just symbols of power but also guardians of the tombs, believed to protect the souls of the deceased. Including these local beliefs can add a mystical element to your blog.

The Festival of Dedan

Every year, during the Winter at Tantora festival, the site of Dedan comes alive with cultural activities and events. This festival is a modern celebration that connects the past with the present, featuring traditional music, dance, and crafts. Mentioning this festival can provide readers with a contemporary connection to the ancient site, encouraging them to visit during this vibrant time.

The Tale of the Dedanitic Script

The Dedanitic script, used by the people of Dedan, is a fascinating aspect of their culture. Local historians often share stories about how this script was used not only for official inscriptions but also for personal letters and poetry. Including anecdotes about the everyday use of Dedanitic can humanize the ancient inhabitants and make their culture more relatable.

The Influence of Mesopotamian Art

The influence of Mesopotamian art on Dedan is evident in the lion sculptures and other artefacts. Local artisans today continue to draw inspiration from these ancient styles, creating modern pieces that reflect this rich heritage. Highlighting this continuity of artistic influence can show the lasting impact of Dedan’s cultural connections.