Archaeological Discoveries of Burials in KSA Shape and Symbolic Meaning to the Mismary burial pattern as a model
Abstract
The astonishing discoveries of hundreds of thousands of tombs, varying in shapes and sizes, some reaching dimensions of hundreds of meters, would not have been possible without the profound passion and immense interest of the Saudi field researcher and anthropologist, Dr. Eid Al-Yahya. These intriguing tombs are expected to reshape our understanding of the history of the Arabian Peninsula as a whole, as well as the history and civilization of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular. It is through modern technologies and remote imaging using advanced technological means that the locations of these tombs have been identified.
Eid Al-Yahya harnessed these possibilities to gather information, affirming it firsthand through multiple visits, which were not without difficulties and risks, especially considering that most of these tombs are situated atop vast mountain peaks. Thus, this study represents the first discovery achieved by the two researchers in their endeavor to draw attention to such intriguing discoveries of this kind. The study will rely on field images captured by the research team, in addition to site plans of the tombs using top-view visualization techniques using "Google Earth." The patterns and designs of these tombs will be analyzed, including their external structures and symbols of religious or general life significance found in the oldest writings recorded during the pictorial stage, also known as cuneiform writing, across the entire ancient Near East region and specifically in Mesopotamia.
The tombs we are discussing and providing information about, especially in the land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, constitute a remarkable and exciting discovery deserving contemplation and study because they are thousands of years older than the classified tombs mentioned above.
In this in-depth study, we will attempt to shed light on the most significant forms and designs of a number of tombs, explaining their meanings diligently by examining the indications found in their early shapes and drawings in the oldest writings. These writings provide intriguing meanings and implications that deserve careful consideration; based on referencing specialized lexicons that clarify the origin of phonetic vocabulary, notably the French Mesopotamian Lexicon (MAD) by Labat R, titled 'Manuel D Épigraphie Akkadienne,' last published in 2002 in Paris. By returning to the visual origin and meaning of the term, we have found that it often aligns with the shape and design of these tombs. Moreover, based on the patterns and designs of the tombs and their implications in the pictorial phase of cuneiform writings, predominantly from the mid to late 4th millennium BCE, we observe symbols and meanings that are closely tied to rituals, deities, tombs, and the realm of the afterlife.
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