Rock Art and Inscriptions in Bishah

The Rock Art and Inscriptions in Bishah are drawings and engravings discovered on the rock surfaces of mountains in the northern and southern parts of Bishah Governorate in Aseer Province, located southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These inscriptions date back to different historical periods, including Islamic and Thamudic eras, with a total of approximately ten thousand engravings and rock drawings. Additionally, two thousand written inscriptions have been recorded, distributed across seven administrative centers affiliated with Bishah Governorate: al-Thaniyah, Tabalah, al-Ja‘bah, an-Naqee‘, al-Junaynah, al-Hazmi, and Samakh.

The rock drawings feature human figures depicted in various artistic styles. Some were carved using full engraving techniques, while others were outlined or rendered in a simple linear style. Some abstract representations indicate that the figure is a man, with certain depictions showing individuals holding bows and spears. Additionally, the drawings include representations of women. Various animals are also depicted, including cattle, ibexes, camels, and horses.

The rock art and inscriptions discovered in Bishah Governorate date back to different historical periods, during which human groups either settled or passed through the area. These include pre-Islamic times and the early Islamic period along an ancient trade route. Some Thamudic inscriptions were found within specific structures, chambers, and burial sites.

Historical studies indicate that several archaeological sites in Bishah Governorate are located along ancient trade routes, such as the Hadrami Route and the Yemeni Pilgrimage Route, known as "Darb al-Feel" (The Elephant Trail). A stone-paved section of this route is located five km west of Bishah.

Bishah Governorate and its surrounding centers were historically known for their ancient markets, as the region served as a passage for trade caravans, including those traveling along the Incense Route and the Southern Arabian Pilgrimage Route.

Researchers have discovered more than 1,300 rock inscriptions and fifty written texts at al-Hama site in al-Thaniyah Center, part of Bishah Governorate. Other archaeological and historical sites in Bishah include Sha‘lan Palace, al-Kulliyat Village in Tabalah, Hawtat Matwiyah, the Elephant Trail, and the ancient trade route in al-Thaniyah.

Bishah Governorate has more than two hundred archaeological sites, including eighty-nine sites featuring rock art and inscriptions. These contain a total of 5,090 drawings and 931 written inscriptions. Among them, Islamic inscriptions are the most numerous, with 539 texts, most of which date back to the first century of the Islamic era. Additionally, there are 334 Thamudic inscriptions, forty-nine inscriptions in the Southern Musnad script, and nine Nabataean inscriptions.