Al-Hijr in Western Saudi Arabia

[Not A Rockstar 4,457]

I came across this today in my grazing and was fascinated. I got no results in search here so am posting to share

here is a blog discussion about it for a general intro: https://nypost.com/2018/06/22/mysterious-ancient-civilization-left-signs-across-vast-desert/

here is the unesco write up about it with some cool pictures: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1293/

My first question is based on the map on the unesco site. Would this not be considered an Egyptian influenced site when it was occupied? Who was active there then? I have not heard before about this civilization and am curious.

Here is the intro blurb on the site about it all:

The Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih) is the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia. Formerly known as Hegra it is the largest conserved site of the civilization of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan. It features well-preserved monumental tombs with decorated facades dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. The site also features some 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and some cave drawings. Al-Hijr bears a unique testimony to Nabataean civilization. With its 111 monumental tombs, 94 of which are decorated, and water wells, the site is an outstanding example of the Nabataeans’ architectural accomplishment and hydraulic expertise.

[Not A Rockstar 4,457]

I suppose not the Egyptians, from this reference. Middle eastern/Arabic/even Roman maybe but not Egyptian. Curiously it seems to have been contemporaneous with Israel but somehow I never heard the name of this civ before. I need to do more reading up on it. Maybe there was another name tossed around I knew it by :/ 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nabataean-people

[Piney 20,793]

10 minutes ago, Not A Rockstar said:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nabataean-people

The Old Testament mentions them. But like any other group more advanced than the Hebrews ( which included everybody) is says nothing good about them.

[kmt_sesh 30,606]

It's a Nabataean site.

http://nabataea.net/who.html

These were basically the forerunners of the Arabs.