The Heritage Commission of Saudi Arabia announced that a rock inscription mentioning Umar ibn al-Khattab, one of the most famous individuals of early Islamic history, was found during archaeological surveys conducted in Medina province.
The Heritage Commission revealed on Tuesday that the rock inscription mentioned was among 1,774 archaeological findings made during season one and season two of a wide-scale survey mission in the Al Mahd Governorate.
Data provided by the Heritage Commission said survey teams managed to document the presence of 173 unknown archaeological sites, emphasising the region's “rich and diverse historical heritage.”
Among the notable findings were 173 rock carvings with the name of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph of Islam, as well as ancient Arabic poems written in rock.
In line with statistics by the commission, the discoveries consist of 1,259 rock art drawings, 461 Islamic inscriptions, 34 inscriptions in the language of the Thamud, 11 stone structures, three palaces and archaeological structures, two milestones of caravan routes and four wells.
Umar ibn al-Khattab governed the Islamic empire from 634 CE to 644 CE.
