Shabwa.. embraces 3 of the ancient Yemeni kingdoms and is the richest governorate in antiquities

Given the great historical importance of Shabwa Governorate, and the absence of a museum specializing in antiquities in that region, the government of the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, during the era of former President Ali Nasser Mohammed, approved the establishment of a museum that would contribute to collecting scattered antiquities, and activating excavation operations and searching for buried treasures in the governorate.

In this context, a decision was issued to appoint Khairan Al-Zubaidi as supervisor of antiquities in Shabwa, a task that was not easy due to the scarcity of resources and the absence of an actual museum at that time. Al-Zubaidi returned to his governorate armed with the enthusiasm of a young man who loves history and civilization, and full of ambition and determination to uncover the secrets of his town’s ancient history, but the reality was different, as he did not find an existing museum, but rather a warehouse in a cinema containing some of the antiquities collected by a French mission that worked in the governorate in 1976.

Despite the challenges, the year 1983 witnessed the construction of the Shabwa Local Museum through the efforts of the local construction foundation, and on November 28, 1984, it became a prominent cultural center that was inaugurated by the former South Yemeni President Ali Nasser Mohammed. The museum included three main sections: Antiquities, Customs and Traditions, and History of the Revolution. The artifacts discovered in Shabwa, including inscriptions, architectural panels, and bronze pieces, formed the largest part of its exhibits, which enhanced awareness of the importance of the cultural heritage of the governorate.

interconnectedness and integration

After the opening of the Ataq Museum, the search for Shabwa's archaeological treasures became a major priority, which strengthened cooperation with the General Authority for Antiquities within a joint framework. In 1986, a government decision was issued appointing Khairan Al-Zubaidi as Director General of Antiquities and Museums, which encouraged the intensification of excavation operations with the participation of foreign archaeological missions and local specialists.

Al-Zubaidi explained that the opening of the museum contributed to accelerating the pace of excavation and collecting antiquities, pointing out that extensive surveys were carried out in the districts of Nisab and Khatib and parts of Jardan and Armah, in addition to surveying the oil pipeline from Marib to the coast of Balhaf, which led to the discovery of 178 archaeological sites and the registration of 52 other sites on the coast of the governorate. The excavations included historical cities such as Old Shabwa and Wadi Dhira, in cooperation with French, Italian and Russian missions.

Al-Zubaidi added that the French and Italian missions uncovered prominent sites such as the city of Tamna, the capital of the Kingdom of Qataban, where the temple of the god Athirt, the Shammar market and the famous commercial law were discovered, in addition to excavations in the villages of Amdhibiyyah and other sites. He stressed that these integrated efforts constituted an important step in documenting the archaeological heritage of the governorate.

Museum in the face of turmoil

During the turmoil that the country witnessed, the Ataq Museum was exposed to attempted robberies and looting, but its director, Khairan Al-Zubaidi, and his staff played a prominent role in protecting it. Al-Zubaidi recounts that during the 1986 war in the era of Democratic Yemen, the museum remained open for three months without guards, and was not harmed. However, things changed during the 1994 war, when the museum was subjected to looting and vandalism with the collapse of the security institutions and the exploitation of the chaos.

After the war, Al-Zubaidi made great efforts with government agencies to recover some of the looted pieces, and they recovered parts of them from Sana’a and Marib, while others remained missing despite being documented. During the 2015 war, with the Houthis controlling the governorate center, most of the artifacts were transferred to safe places, and the administrative staff formed a guard in cooperation with the tribesmen, which prevented the museum from being exposed to any harm, in a move that reflected the community’s awareness of the value of this national wealth.

Museum development continues

The discovery included the Hadrami Palace and the palaces of the nobles, where copper pots and pans, pieces of marble, and coins bearing engravings of ibex and bunches of grapes were found.

One of the most prominent missions that worked in Shabwa was the French mission led by François Beton, which made important discoveries in the ancient city of Shabwa, including the discovery of bronze pieces, wings of winged animals, and parts of royal statues. In 1984, the mission discovered the entrance to the royal palace, consisting of a wide, decorated staircase and decorated stone panels, which added a new dimension to understanding the ancient civilization in the region.

(Independent Arabia)