The art of rock relief in ancient Arabia: new evidence from the Jawf Province

• Autores: Guillaume Charloux, Hussain Al-Qassem, Thamer al-Malki, Romain Mensan, Ronald Schwerdtner
• Localización: Antiquity, ISSN 0003-598X, Vol. 92, Nº 361, 2018, págs. 165-182
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The relative scarcity of ancient Arabian rock reliefs has been a significant barrier to understanding the development, function and socio-cultural context of such art. The recently discovered �Camel Site� in northern Arabia depicts, for the first time, life-sized camelids and equids carved in low- and high-relief. Analysis and stylistic comparison of the art suggest a distinct Arabian tradition, which perhaps drew upon Nabataean and Parthian influences. That this isolated and seemingly uninhabitable site attracted highly skilled rock-carvers is striking testimony to its importance for surrounding populations. Perhaps serving as a boundary marker or a place of veneration, the Camel Site offers important new evidence for the evolution of Arabian rock art.