“In the Footsteps of Ryckmans” survey from Jeddah to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In October 2023, a joint Saudi-Belgian team of the UCLouvain and KU Leuven, in close partnership with the King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah, Saudi Arabia), the Heritage Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the King Saud University, conducted a large-scale “In the Footsteps of Ryckmans” epigraphic survey in Saudi Arabia, retracing significant parts of the 1951-52 Philby-Ryckmans-Lippens expedition. While the Philby-Ryckmans-Lippens expedition was mainly an exploration mission, the primary aim of the 2023 expedition project was to (1) retrace, (2) document, and (3) safeguard the rich legacy of Ancient South and North Arabian, as well as Arabic rock inscriptions and rock art recorded during the Ryckmans-Philby-Lippens expedition.