Heritage Commission Unveils Secrets of Stone Rectangles in Hail

Heritage Commission Unveils Secrets of Stone Rectangles in Hail
TT

Heritage Commission Unveils Secrets of Stone Rectangles in Hail

Heritage Commission Unveils Secrets of Stone Rectangles in Hail

The Heritage Commission has revealed the results of a recent scientific study published in the journal The Holocene, as part of the Green Arabia Project, which focuses on studying the history of human expansion and migration in the Arabian Peninsula during prehistoric times, SPA reported.
The study relies on precise spatial analysis, based on archaeological surveys and excavations conducted in 2021 at the study sites to uncover the reasons that led Neolithic inhabitants in northwestern Arabia to choose the locations of the stone mustatils (which means rectangles in Arabic) in the Hail Region for settlement.
The Heritage Commission conducted the study in cooperation with several local and international institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, the University of Tübingen in Germany, the University of Cologne in Germany, King's College London, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, King Saud University, Griffith University in Australia, the University of Queensland in Australia, the Smithsonian Institution in the US, and the University of Malta.
The stone rectangles are massive archaeological structures dating back to between 5400 and 4200 BC. They are located at the periphery of the Nafud Desert, atop hilltops at elevations ranging from 880 to 950 meters, which offer wide views of the surrounding landscapes, indicating that the selection of these sites was not random.
The proximity to water sources and raw materials further emphasizes the deliberate choice of these locations.
The study reveals the existence of significant scattered clusters of these stone rectangles, suggesting specific patterns of movement, and migration of the peoples of that era.
It also indicates that the size and distribution of these rectangles suggest that they were used for various purposes, including religious rituals, social practices, and as markers of territorial ownership.
Experimental studies showed that constructing these stone rectangles was not overly difficult. A small group of people could build a rectangle 177 meters long in a few weeks. Larger rectangles may have taken months to construct, but the process was faster when community members worked together. The rectangles give an inkling into the organizational skills and cooperation prevalent in those societies.
According to the commission, the findings provide a new context for understanding the stone rectangles. Applying this type of spatial analysis could lead to the documentation of other types of stone structures, which would contribute to a deeper understanding of the organization and establishment of Neolithic communities in northwestern Saudi Arabia, it said.



Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence
TT

Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

The Culinary Arts Commission has announced a strategic partnership with the international organization Sirha Food to enhance the presence of Saudi culinary culture at international events and competitions focused on the culinary arts.
Under this partnership, the Kingdom will host regional selection competitions for both the Bocuse d'Or competition and the Pastry World Cup for the Middle East in 2025.

According to SPA, this marks a significant step in the development of the Kingdom’s culinary arts sector, as these prestigious competitions aim to discover the best talents in the region, providing chefs with the opportunity to compete on the global stage and offering Saudi chefs a platform to showcase their skills internationally.
The collaboration between the Culinary Arts Commission and Sirha Food includes participation in the finals of the Pastry World Cup and the Bocuse d'Or World Final, as well as the Sirha exhibition, set to take place in Lyon, France, in January 2025.
The partnership builds on the existing collaboration between the commission and Sirha Food, which previously resulted in the organization of the Sirha Arabia exhibition in Riyadh.
CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission Mayada Badr stated that the collaboration with Sirha Food represents a pivotal step toward advancing the culinary arts in the Kingdom. She noted that hosting the regional edition of the Bocuse d'Or competition and the Pastry World Cup, alongside the commission's participation in Sirha Lyon, reflects its commitment to enhancing the Kingdom's global status in this field.
Badr also pointed out that this partnership aligns with the commission’s ongoing efforts to develop the culinary arts sector through fruitful collaborations that contribute to improving the culinary scene in the Kingdom, fostering growth in the sector, and benefiting Saudi chefs and local talent.