Arabs migrated from central region to establish kingdoms in Iraq, Levant, Egypt, says historian

RIYADH: Only a group of tribes later described as Arabs inhabited the area now known as the Arabian Peninsula in antiquity and modern times, and other ethnicities lived there temporarily, a leading Saudi Arabia historian has said.

Dr. Suleiman Al-Theeb, who is a professor of ancient Arabic inscriptions at King Saud University, presented some of his research during a panel discussion titled “Ancient Arabic Writings” at the Riyadh International Book Fair.

The panelists focused on the deep-rooted cultural heritage of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The fair was organized by the Kingdom’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission between Sept. 26 and Oct. 5.

During the discussions, Al-Theeb talked about the meanings of ancient Arab inscriptions, and writings in the Arabic script.

He said the term “Arab” was first used to describe a group of tribes during the Assyrian era, in the 8th and 9th centuries B.C.E.

He added that migrations from the Arabian Peninsula began from the central region, moving northward to Mesopotamia, Greater Syria, and Egypt, where immigrants settled and established kingdoms.

Al-Theeb said the oldest known Arab inscription, found in the city of Lachish in Palestine, is Thamudic and dates to 1300 B.C.E.

“Initially, it was believed to be Phoenician and dated to 1509 B.C.E., but it was later confirmed to combine South Arabian script and Thamudic letters,” he said.

Al-Theeb has written extensively about civilizations dating back thousands of years in the Arabian Peninsula.

He is a writer, historian, researcher and an expert in archaeology and ancient languages of the region, and spoke extensively about his work at the fair.