Two Anthropomorphic Stelae Connected With a Platform‐Like Structure in the Area of Ḥimā (Saudi Arabia): New Data From Southwestern Arabia.

ABSTRACT Since 2020, the Saudi‐French Archaeological and Epigraphic Mission to Najrān (MAFSN) has been conducting additional archaeological surveys and small‐scale excavations in the Ḥimā area, providing a wealth of data from different historical periods. Preliminary analysis of the structures and artefacts discovered revealed a complex landscape characterised by patterns of continuous human activity from the Palaeolithic to modern times, underlining the historical importance of this area as a transit hub along the caravan routes. The identification of various structures has made it possible to establish a basic typology and enabled a distribution study of the human presence, allowing comparisons with neighbouring regions. This paper presents the discovery of two anthropomorphic stelae associated with a platform‐like structure excavated in November 2021 on the eastern side of Jabal al‐Kawkab, al‑Gharaziyyāt area. The documentation of these stelae lays the groundwork for a re‐evaluation of the Bronze Age occupation of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arabian Archaeology & Epigraphy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)