Dūmat al‑Jandal, a North Arabian oasis from the Assyrian period to the advent of Islam. Results and perspectives after field and remote survey seasons 2019–2022

This paper presents the main achievements of the joint Saudi-Italian archaeological project in the al‑Jawf region (Saudi Arabia), with a particular focus on Dūmat al‑Jandal, ancient Assyrian Adummatu and Nabataean Dumah. Since 2009 the project (Heritage Commission, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, University of Napoli L’Orientale, The Barakat Trust) is investigating the ancient oasis and its pivotal role in al‑Jawf and northern Arabia trade routes, dealing with a prehistoric (Holocene) panorama and revealing the eighth- to seventh-century BC Assyrian occupational phase as well as the Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine periods up to the coming of Islam. Seasons 2019 to 2022 were particularly productive both for the definition of the geoarchaeological map of al‑Jawf (mainly prehistoric features) and for the study of the settlement strategies of this huge oasis during its long history, as well as for the rediscovery of its ancient necropolis and historical market.