Residents in the Najran village of Hama have appealed to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to act swiftly to save the village's archeological sites which they say are being destroyed by unruly youths. Local resident Makhfour Bin Omar Al-Arjani says adolescents and other people who are ignorant of the historical value of the archeological sites have obliterated the features on some rocks and even shot at them with firearms. Hama village is located in the province of Najran and has a history going back some 5,000 years due to its abundant water supply. According to Al-Arjani historical references describe ancient Hama as a center for trade and a passage for caravans on their way to Egypt and the north of the Arabian Peninisula. The area is well known for its numerous archeological sites which include inscriptions and carvings dating back to pre-Islam civilizations. Some of the inscriptions, written in Al-Musnad calligraphy, narrate the famous story of the Himyari King Dhu Nawas and the “People of the Trench”. “Some of the civilizations that existed in Hama are pre-Islamic, and some date back to the early years of Islam,” says Al-Arjani. “The area is an open museum and one of the richest archeological treasures in the Kingdom, and it deserves protection.” Hama locals hope to see the historical importance broadcast to the outside world in order to attract researchers and tourists. They say that the SCTA in Najran has done nothing more than to erect a fence around a small number of sites and are asking for officials to visit the sites and see for themselves the extent of the damage being done.
