Mysterious symbols found in Qatar desert

(CNN Travel) Some soft rocks appear in the desert, like reptiles bathed in the sun. There are also some mysterious depressions, similar to ancient board games played all over the world. There are still a few that are hard to see.

In a desolate and windy corner of the northeast coast of Qatar, among the sand dunes in the barren desert, there is Al-Jassasiya, the largest and most important rock painting site in the Gulf countries.

Here, centuries ago, people used a series of low-lying limestone outcrops as canvases, on which they carved symbols, patterns and objects they observed in the environment.

Overall, archaeologists have found about 900 stone carvings or "rock paintings" in Al-Jassasiya. Most of them are mysterious cup-shaped symbols arranged in various patterns, including rows and garlands, but there are also striking sailing patterns, which are usually seen from above but also depicted in linear outlines, as well as other symbols and signs.

Ferhan Sacquard, head of excavation and site management of Qatar Museum, told CNN: "Although rock paintings are common in Arabian Peninsula, some sculptures of Al-Jassasiya are unique and cannot be found anywhere else." He refers to rock paintings overlooking ships from the air.

There are about 65,438+02 famous rock painting sites in Qatar, mainly located on the coast of the country-although some sculptures can even be seen in the center of Bidadapa in Doha, overlooking a popular seaside gallery.

Al-Jassasiya was found in 1957, one hour north of Uber, the capital of modern Qatar, near Al-Huwaila, the ancient Pearl Harbor. At the end of 1973 and the beginning of 1974, the Danish team, led by archaeologist holger capel and his son Hans capel, spent more than six weeks researching and cataloguing the whole site in detail. More than one-third of all recorded personal numbers and compositions consist of cup-shaped marks of various structures, shapes and sizes. The most prominent pattern is two parallel rows of seven holes, which makes some people believe that these holes are used to play mankala. Mankala is a popular board game in many parts of the world since ancient times. Two contestants threw odd and even stones into the depression. Others question this theory, pointing out that some holes in Al-Jassasiya are too small to hold any stones, while others can be found on slopes-an unrealistic choice that may lead to the collapse of counters. Further suggestions include cups used for divination in some way; Or for sorting and storing pearls; Or as a system for calculating time and tides.

So, what are they for? What do they mean? "It's hard to answer," admits Saquad, who also doesn't support the board game theory. He said: "We have no direct clues about the model used by Al-Jassasiya. In my opinion, they may have a ritual meaning and function, which is very old and therefore cannot be explained from the perspective of ethnography. " But how old? "We really don't know," Saquad admitted, explaining that rock painting-and the art of rock painting-has been very challenging so far. He added: "From the Neolithic Age to the late Islamic period, there are various hypotheses about this era. Personally, I don't think all sculptures are made at the same time. "

Ten years ago, a scientific study of nine different rock paintings of Al-Jassasiya found no evidence that they were more than several hundred years old, but the researchers concluded that more research was needed, including developing new technologies specifically for limestone carving. Although experts are not sure when Al-Jassasiya's rock paintings were created and by whom, they all agree that the most fascinating and distinctive sculpture in this site is the boat.

These works provide important information about the types of ships and their various elements used in the booming fishery and pearl industry, which has been the pillar of Qatar's economy for centuries.

Seen from above, most ships are usually fish-shaped, with sharp stern and rows of paddles carved with pointed metal tools. They contain details, such as cross ribs and holes, which can show the position of masts and rungs. In some cases, a long line at the stern depicts a rope, and its end is either a traditional Arabian anchor (a triangular stone anchor with two holes) or a European anchor (a metal anchor with a long handle and two bent arms, which was first used in this area about seven centuries ago).

Frances Gillespie and Faisal Abdulla al-Naimeh wrote in Hiding in the Sand: Uncovering Qatar's Past: "Some boats' paddles are not parallel, because they must be parallel when rowing, but point to different positions. "

"This is what divers look like. When the boat is moored on Pearl Beach, the paddles stay where they are, so that they can catch and rest every time they come up." ? Experts say they can only guess why Al-Jassasiya's boat carvings are so concentrated compared with other coastal rock painting sites in Qatar. Gillespie and Al-Naimi pointed out: "Ships played an important role in the beliefs of ancient people, who regarded them as symbolic means of transportation from this world to another."

"Babylonians and ancient Egyptians believed that the dead arrived in the afterlife by boat. In Greek mythology, it is mentioned that the boatman Caron transported the souls of the dead across the Styx to the underworld. Perhaps the oldest ship sculpture is an echo of folk memories dating back to prehistoric times. "

Whatever the reason, visitors should remember to bring water, put on a hat and sunscreen, and think about the significance of roaming in the sculpture. There is no shady area in the fence, so it is best to visit at sunrise and sunset. Al-Jassasiya is located in the south of the popular Azerbaijani beach, so a short trip there can also be combined with a relaxing day by the sea.