RIYADH: Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci recently visited the Italian archaeological mission at the historic oasis of Dumat Al-Jandal, highlighting close cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Italy.
Dumat Al-Jandal, also known as Al-Jouf, which refers to Wadi Sirhan, is an ancient city of ruins and the historical capital of the Al-Jouf Province in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The archaeological mission established in 2009 and led by Prof. Romolo Loreto of the University of Naples L’Orientale recently obtained a new five-year concession (2024-2029) for excavations and the study of materials in Dumat Al-Jandal, the ancient Assyrian Adummatu (Nabataean Dumah and Roman Dumata), and for prospecting in the Al-Jouf region to study the Neolithic prehistoric phases (Asfan and Jebel Najma sites) and the Bronze Age (Tamriyat funerary sites).
“Ambassador Baldocci visited the Archaeological Mission at Dumat Al-Jandal. The new five-year concession will enhance excavation, restoration and personnel training. Ambassador Baldocci emphasized close ties between Saudi Arabia and Italy,” the Italian Embassy posted on X.
In addition to archaeological activities, there is a restoration mission and training of Saudi personnel.
During the visit, Baldocci highlighted how “Italy in the archaeological field, also thanks to the fundamental contribution of the Farnesina, succeeds in bringing its knowledge, traditions and skills to many friendly countries, as it does in Saudi Arabia, where it has been present since 2009 on the Dumat Al-Jandal site, in a synergy with the Heritage Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture.
“It is our intention to reinforce this commitment with an increasingly structured and profiled partnership in Saudi Arabia: A Winter Archaeological School for Saudi students and an exhibition on the results of the Italian Mission’s excavation campaigns in recent years will be part of a program with the Italian Embassy in Riyadh, for 2025,” he added.
