Director General of Archaeological Researches and Studies in the National Heritage Sector at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) Dr. Abdullah Al-Zahrani stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become one of the developed countries globally in the field of archaeological researches and discoveries during the past five years. He pointed out that 44 international and local archaeological missions are conducting archaeological excavations in various regions of the Kingdom this year, including a joint Italian-Saudi mission. This came in a press conference at the "Roads of Arabia Masterpieces of Antiquities in Saudi Arabia Across the Ages" Exhibition, which was opened by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Culture, and Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini last Tuesday in Rome, Italy. Dr. Al-Zahrani gave a presentation on the Exhibition and the important artifacts exhibited by different historical civilizations witnessed in the Arabian Peninsula. He pointed out that these archaeological discoveries consolidate the civilizational dimension of the Kingdom, as the status it enjoys today among the countries of the world at the religious, political, economic and civilizational levels is an extension of a rich cultural heritage, in addition to the distinctive geographical position that made it a meeting point for international land and sea trade routes throughout all ages.
