First world summit shines light on AlUla
The inaugural AlUla World Archaeology Summit, held in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, concluded with a series of enlightening discussions on the future of archaeology and its potential to bring about meaningful societal transformations. The summit attracted over 300 delegates from 39 countries, offering a platform for interdisciplinary conversations that transcended the specialist mindset, aiming to introduce archaeology to a broader audience. Topics ranged from the relevance of ancient wisdom in today’s world to the advancements in digital and inclusive archaeology.
Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, the Executive Director of Archaeology, Conservation, and Collections at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), expressed his enthusiasm about the summit’s success, emphasizing the importance of the discussed topics for the future of archaeology. The summit, organized by RCU, boasted 327 attendees, 80+ speakers, and representation from 167 institutions, including 65 universities. Notably, the gender ratio of the attendees was 47% female to 53% male.
A highlight of the summit was the announcement of a new prize for young archaeologists, the AlUla World Archaeology Summit Award of Excellence. This award aims to further promote the science of archaeology in future summits. AlUla, recognized for its rich archaeological significance, is home to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The summit underscored AlUla’s role as a center for archaeological research, with ongoing projects revealing its rich cultural landscapes.
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