Two camels, The Camel Site,
Saudi Arabia. Public domain,
ancientorigins.com.
In
university art departments there is a common practice known as the
artist-in-residence. This is usually a working artist brought in from outside
the university for a term to provide the students a good example of a working
artist as well as broaden their range of experience.
The Camel Site, Saudi
Arabia. Public domain,
nytimes.com.
"In 2016, archaeologists
discovered a site in what appears, at first glance, to be the middle of
nowhere. There isn't much else around for miles: the surrounding desert is bleak
and inhospitable. Which is why archaeologists were surprised to find at least
11 carved dromedary camels protruding from stones at what they call 'the camel
site.' The international team of archaeologists has now published their
analysis of the site in the Cambridge journal Antiquity." (Hugo 2018) At first glance, these
relief carvings, apparently done by someone who came from somewhere else,
reminded me of artists-in-residence.
"The archaeologists studying
the weather-beaten "Camel Site in Al Jawf, a province in northwest Saudi
Arabia near Jordan, suggest the sculptures are a facet of broader Arabian
tradition that was probably influenced by the Parthians (ancient Iranians) and
nomadic Nabateans from preceding centuries." (Schuster 2018) Because of the
location most of the severe erosion of the images would have been caused by the
abrasion of wind-blown sand. This style of relief carving was certainly common
in parts of the Middle East at this time, but such reliefs were not common in
Saudi Arabia, making the possibility that they originated with foreign
travelers more likely.
The Camel Site, Saudi
Arabia. Public domain,
nytimes.com.
"The somewhat eroded statues
are tentatively dated at around 2,000 old, give or take a century or more,
according to a collaboration between the French National Center for Scientific
Research and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage reported
this week in the Cambridge journal of Antiquity." (Schuster 2018)
The Camel Site, Saudi
Arabia. Public domain,
nytimes.com.
Given the
facts that the style of carving is uncommon in the Saudi Arabia of the time,
that the location of the carvings is a likely rest stop along a caravan route,
and that the subjects (beasts of burden) would be most common among caravans,
the conclusion that they source of the carvings was caravaneers is inescapable.
Two other animals that are portrayed may be horses or donkeys, other beasts of
burden that may have accompanied caravans.
The Camel Site, Saudi
Arabia. Public domain,
nytimes.com.
My
artist-in-residence analogy above is not really applicable for there were
probably no permanent residences, or art departments. Based upon what can be
seen today the location was probably a temporary stop along a caravan route. However, the fact that it would have taken
considerable time and effort for some of the carvings suggests that something
more was involved.
"Some of the sculptures were so
high up the rock that they must have required ropes or scaffolding. They had
journeyed for miles and carved deep lines in the rock to depict their traveling
companions. However, as (the) rocky spot is along a caravan route, the camel
site could have been a resting place where travelers created images and reliefs
of their four-legged friends (which) carried them and their goods from place to
place." (Hugo
2018)
Perhaps the
caravans left a cache of water and/or other supplies at this spot for their
return trip, and one or more attendants may have stayed behind to safeguard it.
To pass the time they may have done the carving. In any case, the images now
provide clues to aspects of life in this part of the world 2,000 years ago.
NOTE: Images in this posting were retrieved from the internet
with a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not
intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture
credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on
these reports you should read the originals at the sites listed below.
REFERENCES:
ancientorigins.com
dailymail.co.uk
Hugo, Kristin
2018 Ancient Rock Carvings Discovered in Saudi
Arabia Hint at Artists From Faraway Lands, February 14, 2018, https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-rock-carvings-discovered-saudi-163342930.html
nytimes.com
Schuster,
Ruth
2018 2,000 Year Old Life-Size Camel Art Found In
Heart of Saudi Arabian Desert, Feb. 13, 2018,
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-2-000-year-old-life-size-camel-art-found-in-heart-of-saudi=arabian-des-1.5812024
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