In December 2019 Project Manager Dustin Kirk, of Simcoe Geoscience & TMC Geopysics Ltd. of Canada, carried out a Geophysics Survey in the 'Asir Province of Saudi Arabia for the mining company Ma’aden.

Petroglyphs in the Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. Image: Dustin Kirk.

During the survey he came across numerous petroglyphs of various sizes and of considerable age based on the natural varnish on the carvings themselves. Kirk's team did not have a guide whilst working in the area around Gaabah therefore was no information about the provenance of the petroglyphs or interpretation of the motifs, but the images reveal human and animal figures as well as symbols.

The Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. Image: Dustin Kirk.

The 'Asir Province, named after the 'Asīr tribe, is in the southwest of Saudi Arabia.

Petroglyphs in the Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. Image: Dustin Kirk.

To the south lies the Najran Province where the Bir Hima petroglyph site is located. Here research has been carried out, and the carvings have been attributed to the Palaeolithic and Neolithic, dating from 7000 to 1000 BC.

Petroglyphs in the Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. Image: Dustin Kirk.

In 2021 the Bir Hima petroglyph site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Click here to visit the Saudi Arabia Rock Art Archive