Al-Ahsa Oasis
A World Heritage Cultural Landscape
In 1992, UNESCO described cultural landscapes as works of nature and humankind” and“express a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their natural environment.” The goal of UNESCO concerning these sites is to protect these displays of the interactions between people and their environment and share them with humanity. Upon creating this category, 121 cultural landscape sites have been added to the World Heritage List (UNESCO). One such site is that of Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is in Saudi Arabia and was inscribed onto the World Heritage list in 2018. The site comprises many parts, including archaeological sites, historical buildings, and other architectural features, including advanced water management systems. The site contains evidence of human habitation from the present back to the Neolithic. In addition, the Al-Ahsa is the largest oasis in the world (UNESCO, 2018).
Natural Heritage
The Al-Ahsa Oasis is uniquely located, being surrounded by the Persian Gulf and two deserts, the Ad-Dahna and the Ar-Rub’ Al-Khali. The oasis also has 2.5 million palm trees (UNESCO, 2018). The oasis represents an area of fertility in an otherwise inhospitable desert area, which can be illustrated with Ar-Rub’ Al-Khali, which is known as the “Empty Quarter” and is the world’s largest desert (ncusar, 2023). As such, it is no wonder that the Oasis has attracted settlers and travelers from the Neolithic to the present. For the Oasis to exist in this environment, several natural features had to be present. The oasis contains many natural features, including “water springs, caves, mountains, flatlands, modern and historic canals” (UNESCO, 2018). Due to water availability, both through the natural water springs and the additional help by creating various water-lifting mechanisms, the Oasis has been and is still currently used for agriculture. The Oasis contains 2.5 million palms that produce dates that are then exported to the rest of the world (UNESCO, 2018).
The location of the Oasis and the natural features that made it appealing to people have influenced the development of the cultural landscape. If the Oasis did not have the natural features it has, the various people who have used this location over millennia would not likely have chosen this site. The Oasis stands out in its region, being a lush area in a desert region. The land formations, such as the mountains, caves, and springs, lured people to inhabit this area, create beautiful gardens, and build mosques, markets, and palaces. The Oasis is an excellent example of when resources are present; people will choose those areas to inhabit and work with the landscape to help them survive.
Cultural Heritage
Not only is the Al-Ahsa Oasis unique for its natural features, but it also has many aspects that make it unique culturally. As previously mentioned, the site has seen human habitation since the Neolithic, so various cultures are represented within the Oasis. The Oasis is the largest globally and can accommodate many cultural features. Many archaeological sites are dispersed throughout the Oasis alongside modern settlements. The major city in the Oasis is Al-Hofuf, which contains historic souks, a type of marketplace, and modern markets. These modern markets sell products produced in the Oasis, including agricultural goods, such as date palms, which are a major product of the Oasis. Along with the markets come many intangible aspects. Both in the historic souks and modern markets, one can consider the intangible cultural heritage that goes along with these locations, such as music, food, and the clothing that the people in the market may be wearing or selling (UNESCO, 2018).
The Al-Ahsa Oasis, being in Saudi Arabia, a predominantly Muslim country, is home to several mosques as well. One is Jawatha Mosque, which is in a village instead of the main city of Al-Hofuf. The mosque was built in 629 C.E., and while most of its original structure is in ruins, people still use it as a site for prayer (Archiqoo, 2024). Another important site is that of Ibrahim Palace, sometimes called the Dome Palace. This palace is unique in that while the date of its creation is unknown, it is estimated to have been built before 1549, which correlates to the Ottoman conquest of the region. The palace's area has seen many changes since it was first constructed. Depending on the interests of the time, other structures were added to the area, including a mosque, a Turkish bath, and defensive walls. The palace also represents multiple architectural styles. The first is Islamic, seen through arches, a dome, and a minaret. The second is a military, seen throughout the construction of soldiers’ barracks (Ncusar, 2023).
Interaction between Natural and Cultural Heritage
The natural and cultural heritage of the Al-Ahsa Oasis is closely intertwined. The human habitation of the Oasis is solely based on the area's natural features. Being surrounded by deserts, it is easy to see why the Oasis is where people choose to live and not the surrounding area. People have also worked closely with the area, using it for its maximum potential. People have seen the beauty of the Oasis for thousands of years and have chosen time and time again to make it their home. This can be seen through numerous archaeological sites, including the ruins of the Jawatha Mosque, all the way to the modern-day markets, which draw in tourists from around the globe.
Conclusion
Before seeing a photo of Al-Ahsa Oasis, one can conjure a spot of green beauty in a desert landscape. Al-Ahsa certainly lives up to this image but also contains so much more. The Oasis contains many natural features conducive to the inhabitation of humans in an area. This has proven to be the case with the Oasis‘ having’ evidence of continuous human habitation since the Neolithic. When viewing images of the Oasis, it is easy to see why people have been drawn to it for millennia. Despite being surrounded by multiple deserts, people have found a place to thrive in this region. The Al-Ahsa Oasis is a testament to the interaction between people and their environment.
