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US Embassy to Yemen Announces 2 Initiatives to Preserve the Country's Cultural Heritage

The historic Al-Qahira Castle in Taiz. Photo: X
The historic Al-Qahira Castle in Taiz. Photo: X
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US Embassy to Yemen Announces 2 Initiatives to Preserve the Country's Cultural Heritage

The historic Al-Qahira Castle in Taiz. Photo: X
The historic Al-Qahira Castle in Taiz. Photo: X

The US Embassy to Yemen has announced two significant initiatives dedicated to preserving and restoring Yemen’s invaluable cultural heritage.

The Embassy said in a statement that in partnership with the Yemeni Ministry of Culture, it launched a significant restoration project for the historic Al-Qahira Castle in Taiz.

Funded by the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), the initiative will focus on the restoration of key areas and the reconstruction of its museum destroyed during the conflict, said the statement.

Al-Qahira Castle, a landmark of Yemen’s rich cultural history, stands as a testament to the nation’s resilience and heritage.

“This castle is not just a monument; it is a symbol of Yemen’s rich and diverse history and cultural resilience. Preserving Al-Qahira Castle ensures that future generations of Yemenis will have access to their shared history and heritage,” said US Ambassador Steven Fagin.

Fagin also emphasized the collaborative spirit behind this project: “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, our committed implementing partners, the local community in Taiz who have shown tremendous cooperation and enthusiasm in this preservation effort.”

The US Mission, with support from the Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant (CPAIG), also launched a project aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of Yemeni cultural heritage, said the statement.

“The initiative, in collaboration with the Yemeni Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Interior, will help establish a specialized law enforcement unit dedicated to combatting illegal cultural property trafficking,” it said.

“The project will provide capacity-building programs, enhance regional and international cooperation, and foster local community engagement through educational campaigns and public outreach,” it added.

Fagin said the project underscores America’s shared commitment to preserving Yemen’s cultural heritage for future generations. “We are honored to work alongside the Yemeni government in this vital effort to protect Yemen’s historical and cultural identity.”

Accoridng to the Embassy statement, the initiative builds on the US-Yemen Cultural Property Agreement signed in August 2023, which enforces US import restrictions on Yemeni cultural materials, further solidifying bilateral cooperation in heritage preservation.

“Both initiatives highlight the crucial role of cultural heritage in Yemen’s social and economic fabric and the global importance of preserving the country’s rich historical legacy,” it said, vowing to remain “steadfast in its commitment to protecting and promoting Yemen’s cultural treasures for the benefit of future generations.”

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Culture

Rome’s Colosseum Gets a Fresh Look That Recreates the Footprints of Long-Gone Columns

The inauguration of the new layout and archaeological area of the southern ambulacra of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
The inauguration of the new layout and archaeological area of the southern ambulacra of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
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Rome’s Colosseum Gets a Fresh Look That Recreates the Footprints of Long-Gone Columns

The inauguration of the new layout and archaeological area of the southern ambulacra of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
The inauguration of the new layout and archaeological area of the southern ambulacra of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, 17 March 2026. (EPA)

The Colosseum has a bright new look following a restoration using the same travertine marble of ancient Rome to recreate parts of columns from 2,000 years ago.

Thousands of Romans once flocked to this arena to watch gladiators battle each other and wild animals. The structure still captures the public's imagination; it is Italy’s most popular tourist destination, with 9 million visitors in 2025 alone.

The project focused on a semicircular piazza outside the arena, where Roman spectators crowded under two arcades comprised of marble columns stretching up to 50 meters (164 feet) high. People stood in these arcades as they waited to pass through the entrances and take their seats.

Those arches are long gone, collapsing over the centuries from earthquakes and unstable ground. But now, tourists will be able to sit on large travertine marble slabs where their columns once stood and read reproductions of the Roman numerals that indicated seat sections.

“These blocks of travertine marble are placed, located exactly where the pillars, the original pillars were based,” said Italian architect Stefano Boeri, who designed the piazza. “The idea we had was to give back to the public the perception of the proportion of the arcades and the proportion of the vaults of the arches that were used to enter in the center of the Colosseum.”

Over time, the outside area became filled with detritus, including pieces of ruins, and overgrown with weeds.

Restorers began by digging a meter (yard) to where the travertine paving stones once covered the entrance area. They discovered coins, statues, animal bones and a gold ring. Deeper down is the secret underground passageway where Emperor Commodus used to enter the Colosseum while avoiding the hoi-polloi, and which was opened to the public last year.

Restorers sourced the new slabs of travertine from the same quarries where the ancient Romans retrieved theirs — and that today are used build a new generation of religious buildings, banks, museums, government buildings and private homes.

“From the beginning we understood only one thing and that was that we wanted to be involved,” Fabrizio Mariotti, head of the Mariotti Carlo stonecutting firm that has been carving travertine to order for four generations in Tivoli, said Tuesday while sitting on a slab of the stone.

“For a family like ours that has been working with travertine for four generations, working at the Colosseum, which is the symbol not only of Rome but also of this material, is so important.”

Earlier this year, the city of Rome opened two new subway stations, one deep beneath the Colosseum completing a multi-billion euro metro project. The restoration of the Colosseum’s perimeter was done using compensatory funds from the metro, project officials said.

Culture

Northern Arabia Archaeological Site Reveals 13,500-Year-Old Human Settlement

The study documented human settlement at the site dating back about 13,500 years. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)
The study documented human settlement at the site dating back about 13,500 years. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)
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Northern Arabia Archaeological Site Reveals 13,500-Year-Old Human Settlement

The study documented human settlement at the site dating back about 13,500 years. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)
The study documented human settlement at the site dating back about 13,500 years. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)

The Saudi Heritage Commission, one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, announced findings documenting archaeological evidence of early human settlement in northern Arabia. The scientific study presenting the evidence has been published in the journal Nature.

The findings, presented in the scientific study titled “The Natufian Epipalaeolithic and Pre-Pottery Neolithic in the desert of northern Arabia,” are based on advanced excavation and scientific analysis conducted at the Sahout site, an archaeological site located on the southern edge of the Nefud Desert between the Arnan and Al-Misma mountains.

The site occupies a strategic geographic position linking internal desert environments with settlement networks connected to the Levant, making it a key location for understanding early human movement and dispersal in the region during the late Ice Age and the beginning of the Holocene.

The study documented human settlement at the site dating back about 13,500 years. Stratified excavations uncovered distinctive stone tools, most notably Helwan bladelets - small, finely crafted stone implements used as arrowheads or as components of hunting tools.

These artifacts are important archaeological indicators associated with the Natufian culture. Their discovery at the Sahout site confirms the presence of human communities possessing advanced technical skills and the ability to adapt to desert environments. It also reflects the connection of the Arabian Peninsula to broader cultural networks extending to the Fertile Crescent during this early period.

The discovery also revealed a later settlement phase dating between approximately 10,300 and 8,700 years ago, characterized by greater settlement density and technological development in stone industries. Archaeologists discovered Abu Salem points, a type of finely crafted arrowhead used in hunting.

These findings provide important evidence of advanced human societies with sophisticated technological skills, reflecting a high level of organization and environmental knowledge during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period and confirming the presence of developed human settlement in northern Arabia during that time.

Geochemical analyses of the obsidian used to manufacture the stone tools showed that the material originated from Jabal Al-Abyad in the Khaybar region, about 190 km south of the site. This indicates the existence of extensive communication and exchange networks, demonstrating that early communities were capable of traveling long distances to obtain resources from distant areas and highlighting advanced levels of cultural and technological interaction among populations in the region.

The study documented a direct link between human settlement and rock art at the site. Carving tools were found within dated archaeological layers alongside artistic elements depicting life-size camels and human figures.

These discoveries provide a precise chronological framework for the development of artistic expression in northern Arabia, confirming that artistic production was an integral part of the cultural life of the communities inhabiting the area during these early periods.

The findings reaffirm the Kingdom’s commitment to cultural preservation, historical understanding, and knowledge development.

Culture

Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque: An Architectural and Cultural Landmark

The Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque in Al-Haytham, Al-Kharj Governorate.(SPA)
The Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque in Al-Haytham, Al-Kharj Governorate.(SPA)
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Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque: An Architectural and Cultural Landmark

The Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque in Al-Haytham, Al-Kharj Governorate.(SPA)
The Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque in Al-Haytham, Al-Kharj Governorate.(SPA)

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for Development of Historical Mosques focuses on preserving and restoring historical mosques across Saudi Arabia while enhancing their architectural integrity and highlighting their cultural and religious significance. The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

The Qasr Al-Shariah Mosque in Al-Haytham, Al-Kharj Governorate, exemplifies this effort. Closely tied to the governorate's history, it has served as a center for worship and community gatherings for decades, the Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

Built in 1338 AH during the reign of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, the mosque features traditional Najdi architecture, constructed from mud and stone with a roof made of tamarisk wood and palm fronds. Historically, it hosted Quranic classes and religious lessons.

Originally covering 314 square meters and accommodating around 90 worshippers, the mosque has been renovated to expand its area to 371 square meters and increase capacity to 150 worshippers, with the addition of essential facilities.

The project blends traditional building practices with modern techniques to ensure sustainability while preserving each mosque’s architectural identity. It also engages local heritage specialists under the supervision of Saudi engineers to achieve four key objectives: rehabilitating mosques for worship, restoring architectural authenticity, showcasing the Kingdom's civilizational heritage, and enhancing the cultural significance of historical mosques for future generations.