Durham E-Theses An archaeological study of the Yemeni highland pilgrim route between San'A' and Mecca. Al-Thenayian, Mohammed Bin A. Rashed How to cite: Al-Thenayian, Mohammed Bin A. Rashed (1993) An archaeological study of the Yemeni highland pilgrim route between San'A' and Mecca., Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1618/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 0-+.LiLl-IL IgiiitAA9 ABSTRACT Mohammed A. Rashed al-Thenayian. Ph.D. thesis, University of Durham, 1993. An Archaeological Study of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route between San'a' and Mecca This thesis centres on the study of the ancient Yemeni highland pilgrim route which connects $anT in the Yemen Arab Republic with Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two composite sections of this route, which are currently situated in the Yemen and Saudi Arabia respectively, are examined thoroughly in this work. The research conducted combines reference to the range of literary sources dealing with our subject and with the results of our specialized fieldwork applied along the length of the route. The work is composed of six chapters which may be summarized as follows. Chapter I deals with the geographical outlines of Arabia in general and its south and south-western region in particular. It contains an analysis of the geographical data provided by the early Arab geographers concerning the areas of Tihämah, al-klijdz, and al-Sarawat. This is followed immediately by an identical treatment of the geographical boundaries and topographical features of the Yemen. Chapter II provides a literary review of two subject areas: ancient Arabian trade and the routes facilitating it. The major and minor overland routes of South Arabia are also brought to our attention in this connection. Chapter III is divided into two parts. The first part constitutes an attempt to supply a topographical sketch of the ancient pilgrim routes of Arabia, including their 'offshoots' from details recorded by the early Arab geographers. In the second part the courses of the major Yemeni pilgrim routes, with special reference to the highland one, are similarly examined. Chapter IV represents the results of our fieldwork executed along the length of the Yemeni highland pilgrim route, connecting $anT with Mecca. This chapter is split into two parts, the first being wholly devoted to the Yemeni section of the pilgrim route, linking $anT with Sa`dah, and the second to the Saudi section. Chapter V provides an analytical study of the two surveyed sections of the Yemeni highland pilgrim route. In two parts this chapter deals first with the Yemeni section, shedcll some light on the construction and design of the water resources discovered along its course. Our subsequent treatment of the Saudi section concentrates on the engineering methods employed in the construction and design of the track of the route. Chapter VI is an analysis, in two parts, of forty-five Arabic rock and two milestone inscriptions discovered during the survey of the Saudi section of the Yemeni highland pilgrim route. The study is supplied with three appendixes. The first includes four indexes relating to the collection of the Arabic rock-inscriptions. The second and third are respectively a glossary of the Arabic words and terms, and an index of the geographical place names occurring in the text of the thesis. This thesis is composed of two complementary volumes. The present volume (i.e. no. 1) constitutes the theoretical element of our research and the second one presents the relevant visual aids. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE YEMENI HIGHLAND PILGRIM ROUTE BETWEEN SAVA' AND MECCA A thesis presented to the University of Durham by Mohammed A. Rashed al-Thenayian for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Volume 1 School of Oriental Studies Faculty of Arts 1993 22 FEB 1994 DEDICATION To my Mother and my Father (4.1 atd .7170 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Table of Contents iv Statement of Copyright viii Declaration ix Scheme of Transliteration x Abbreviations xi List of Illustrations (included in vol. 2) xvi List of Tables (included in vol. 2) xxx List of Maps (included in vol. 2) xxxii Acknowledgments xxxiii Introduction xxxv VOLUME 1 CHAPTER I: The Geography of the Southern Hijaz 1 Introduction 2 I. The Divisions of Arabia 3 i. Tihämah 4 ii. Al-Hijäz 7 iii. The Sarawat 14 II. The Yemen 15 i. Boundaries 15 ii. Divisions 18 V CHAPTER II: Ancient Arabian Trade 20 Introduction 21 I.i. Ancient Arabian Trade 22 ii. Mecca as a Commercial Centre 28 II. Ancient Trade Routes 32 i. Southern Arabian Incense Routes 32 ii. The Main Incense Route 38 iii. The Gerrhaean Route 43 CHAPTER DI The Early Pilgrim Routes of the Arabian Peninsula as Documented by the Arab Geographers and Travellers 48 Introduction 49 Part One: the Ancient Pilgrim Routes in Arabia 51 I. The Iraqi Pilgrim Routes 51 IL The Yamamah Pilgrim Routes 59 III. The Bahrayni (Hair) Pilgrim Route 60 IV. The Egyptian and Syrian Pilgrim Routes 60 V. The Pilgrim Routes of the Hejaz 65 VI. The Omani Pilgrim Routes 68 Part Two: VII. the Yemeni Pilgrim Routes, with Special Reference to the Highland Pilgrim Route 70 7. The Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 77 7a. The Route between $a`dah and al-Wif/Mecca via the Mountain Range of the Sarawat 77 7b. The Usage of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route by some of the Early Islamic Military Expeditions 79 7c. The Yemeni Pilgrim Caravans 84 7d. Contributors to the Development of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 93 7e. Security along the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 97 vi CHAPTER IV: Field Study of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route; Yemeni Section: San'a'-$a`dah 102 Introduction 103 Part One: Archaeological Sites visited by the Writer 104 Part Two: Gazetteer 122 Saudi Section: Yemeni/Saudi Border-Mecca 135 Introduction 136 Part One: Certain Features of the Route 138 I. The Passes of the Saudi Section of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 138 IL The Paved Portions of the Saudi Section of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 151 HI Levelled Segments of the Saudi Section of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 159 Part Two: Facilities alongside the Route 162 I. The Water Resources along the Saudi Section of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 162 IL Small Mosques (Prayer Places) on the Saudi Section of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 181 III. Ancient Settlements 186 CHAPTER V: Analytical Study of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 200 Part One: Yemeni Section 201 I. Construction and Design of the Water Resources in the Yemeni Section of the Pilgrim Route between San'a' and Sa`dah 201 II. The Yemeni Khans situated on the Course of the Ancient Pilgrim Route between SanT and Sa`dah 217 vii Part Two: Saudi Section 225 I. Construction and Design of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Road 225 i. Paving 226 ii. Levelling 236 iii. Shouldering 238 iv. Ramping 242 v. Walling and Cairns 244 CHAPTER VI: The Arabic Rock- and Milestone- Inscriptions Discovered alongside the Saudi Section of the Yemeni Highland Pilgrim Route 251 Part One: the Milestones 252 Introduction 252 Part Two: the Arabic Rock Inscriptions 263 Introduction 263 Conclusions 426' Appendixes: I. Four Indexes relating to the Collection of the Arabic Rock-Inscriptions 432. IL A Glossary of Arabic Words and Terms 43'1 Bl. Index of Place Names 441 Bibliography 470 VOLUME 2 Plates: I-LXXXII Figures: 1-15 Tables: 1-26 Maps: 1-17 viii 0 STATEMENT OF COPYRIGHT, 1993 The copyright of this thesis (vols. 1 and 2) rests with the author. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the author's prior written consent, and information derived from it should be acknowledged. ix DECLARATION No part of the work composing this thesis has previously been submitted by the candidate for a degree in this or in any other university. --7, Signed: __,-- Date: Cil, . .%., . tql3 x SCHEME OF TRANSLITERATION OF ARABIC The following transliteration system of the Arabic alphabet, which is employed throughout this study, is based on that of Arabian Studies, published by the Middle East Centre of the University of Cambridge. Certain Anglicized place names or words, such as Mecca, Damascus, khan, and wadi, are not transliterated. Consonants , A j z ,..:.) b (.1. s C.) t LA sh k...JA th Le $ E j L.1°; (1 C b .10 t C kh .6 z ▪ d ..) dh gh L. J r c..3 f Short vowels Long vowels , _ a Ca U Ls— a i 7 J.- U L.S5 i Diphthongs - ..,— aw _ ay Notes: ah final, at in construct form.