Hail, July 21, 2024 – In the southwest of Hail, approximately 120 kilometers away, lies the village of “Aba Al-Hiran,” nestled amidst unique geological formations and diverse terrains within the famous Aja Mountains. Over the past centuries, natural erosion and weathering, possibly accompanied by ancient human activity, have sculpted a rock resembling a human head, earning it the name “Jabal Abu Al-Houl” (Sphinx Mountain). This site has become an archaeological and tourist attraction, drawing numerous visitors and tourists from within the Kingdom and abroad to witness the intricate shapes and rich formations surrounding the mountain.
Mishari Al-Nashmi, a researcher in ancient astronomy and rock formations, noted that the Aba Al-Hiran site, which includes “Jabal Abu Al-Houl,” features numerous forms of physical and chemical erosion, combined with the effects of rainwater and humidity over the past decades. These factors have created isolated rock formations that present different shapes and artistic carvings from varying distances, capturing the eye with their striking geological phenomena. Al-Nashmi emphasized the importance of conducting intensive geological and astronomical studies of the site to uncover more secrets and answer many visitors’ questions about how these rocks formed and their unique artistic shapes.
The Hail region is distinguished by a unique diversity of heritage tourist sites within its natural environment. Among these is the rock art site at “Jubbah,” one of the most important and prominent archaeological sites in the Kingdom and globally, considered the largest open-air museum for rock art in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back to the Neolithic period. Additionally, “Jabal Umm Sinman” contains over five thousand rock drawings and inscriptions dating back to the seventh millennium BCE, among other historical sites that have made the region a local and international tourist attraction.
