L’UNIVERSITÀ DI NAPOLI L’ORIENTALE NELLA PENISOLA ARABICA. TREDICI ANNI DELLA MISSIONE ARCHEOLOGICA ITALIANA NEL REGNO DELL’ARABIA SAUDITA: RICERCHE, RESTAURI E PROSPETTIVE

Abstract

Following a 40-year tradition of research conducted by the University of Naples L’Orientale in the Arabian
Peninsula, since 2009 the Italian Archaeological Mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been carrying
out research activities at the site of Dûmat al-Jandal (ancient Adummatu) and in the North Arabian region
of Jawf. The research, which initially focused on the ancient oasis and rediscovered major cultural phases
from Assyrian times to the advent of Islam, now spans a broader spectrum of contexts and disciplines.
Archaeological excavations in the oasis are complemented by restoration and consolidation work (which
has already contributed to Dûmat al-Jandal’s entry on the UNESCO Tentative List); as well as remote
geoarchaeological activities have been implemented, which have both exponentially enriched the mapping
of the region’s cultural heritage, identifying over 18,000 prehistoric sites, and contributed to the training of
Italian and Saudi collaborators on the production of remotely sensed archaeological maps based on the use
of photointerpretation and remote paleoenvironment recognition. Therefore, this contribution would like
to present the most recent scientific activities and major achievements of the Mission, as well as all those
activities aimed at enhancing a cultural heritage straddling South-Arabia, the Levant, and Mesopotamia.