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Ubar

Ubar, often dubbed the Atlantis of the Sands, is a legendary ancient city believed to have been located in the Rub' al-Khali desert of southern Oman's Dhofar province, serving as a vital hub on the prehistoric frankincense trade route that connected Arabia to the Mediterranean and beyond.^[1]^[2] The archaeological site at al-Shisr has been proposed as the location of Ubar; evidence indicates that the settlement there originated in the Bronze Age around 2800 BCE and thrived for millennia as a processing and trading center for frankincense resin harvested from nearby mountains, facilitating commerce with distant civilizations including the Greeks, Romans, and Persians.^[1]^[3] The site's abrupt end came between 100 and 500 CE, likely due to the collapse of an underlying limestone cavern—possibly triggered by an earthquake—creating a massive sinkhole that engulfed the site and buried it under dunes.^[1]^[2] However, the identification of al-Shisr with the legendary Ubar remains debated among archaeologists.^[4] In Arabian folklore and religious texts, Ubar is equated with the biblical and Quranic city of Iram of the Pillars, a prosperous metropolis built by the people of 'Ad under the arrogant king Shaddad, which was divinely destroyed by a cataclysmic windstorm as punishment for their hubris; this narrative, recorded by 13th-century historians like Rashid al-Din, portrays it as a gleaming oasis of wealth and vice that vanished into the sands around 300 CE.^[1]^[3] Early European explorers, including T.E. Lawrence in the 1920s and Bertram Thomas in the 1930s, romanticized Ubar as a mythical "Atlantis" of the desert, mapping ancient caravan tracks but failing to locate it amid the shifting dunes.^[3] The site's rediscovery in 1992 marked a breakthrough in remote sensing archaeology, led by filmmaker Nicholas Clapp and financed by international backers, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory providing crucial Landsat and Shuttle Imaging Radar data to trace converging caravan routes to al-Shisr.^[2]^[3] Excavations at al-Shisr uncovered an octagonal fortress with eight towers, walls up to 12 feet high and 2 feet thick, and artifacts such as imported pottery from Syrian, Greek, and Roman sources dating back over 4,000 years, supporting the site's role as a multicultural trade nexus predating known regional civilizations by a millennium.^[2]^[3] The sinkhole's remnants, filled with debris and pottery shards, provide physical evidence of the catastrophe described in legend, while the site's position at the convergence of ancient incense roads underscores its economic significance in linking the Qara Mountains' resin production to global markets.^[1]^[2] Today, al-Shisr's ruins highlight the interplay of myth, trade, and environmental disaster in ancient Arabia, with ongoing studies emphasizing the innovative use of space technology in unearthing lost heritage.^[2]^[3]

Legend and Mythology

Ancient Literary References

Medieval Arab geographers and poets provided some of the earliest written references to Ubar, depicting it as a prosperous hub of trade routes in southern Arabia. The 10th-century historian Al-Hamdani, in his geographical works such as Sifat Jazirat al-Arab, emphasized Ubar's importance as a wealthy center for the frankincense trade connecting the region to distant markets.^[5] These accounts often portrayed Ubar's downfall as a consequence of divine wrath, with the city vanishing into the sands due to the excesses of its inhabitants, a narrative echoed in broader Arabian literary traditions of cataclysmic punishment. Ubar also features in the One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights), particularly in tales like "The City of Brass," where it is depicted as a ruined, enchanted city of treasure and warning against hubris.) Bedouin oral traditions, passed down through generations, vividly illustrate Ubar as a glittering metropolis where merchants amassed fortunes from incense and spices before its ruin due to overindulgence and moral decay. These stories, shared around campfires, emphasize Ubar's role as a caravan nexus that attracted traders from across the known world, only to be obliterated in a night of supernatural sands, paralleling ancient destruction motifs in regional lore.^[3]

Quranic and Islamic Traditions

In the Quran, Iram is referenced in Surah Al-Fajr (89:6-8) as a symbol of divine retribution: "Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad—[with] Iram of the pillars, the like of which were not produced in the [land of] cities, and [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley, and [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes?" This passage highlights the people of 'Ad, inhabitants of Iram, renowned for their towering structures likened to pillars and their unparalleled grandeur, yet utterly destroyed for their transgressions. Classical tafsirs link Iram explicitly to the tribe of 'Ad, portraying it as their prosperous city with lofty buildings and lush gardens, punished for rejecting the Prophet Hud. Ibn Kathir, in his exegesis, describes Iram as the dwelling of the first 'Ad, descendants of 'Ad bin Iram bin 'Aws bin Sam bin Nuh, who built grand edifices supported by pillars; they defied Hud's call to monotheism and were annihilated by a fierce windstorm lasting seven nights and eight days, as recounted in Surah Hud (11:50-60).^[6] Similarly, Al-Tabari's Jami' al-Bayan interprets Iram as the opulent city constructed by Shaddad bin 'Ad, featuring columns of gold and silver and paradisiacal gardens meant to mimic the afterlife's bliss, but obliterated by a divine storm before its completion due to their hubris and idolatry.^[7] Hadith collections reinforce this narrative; for instance, in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad described the destruction of 'Ad by a destructive westerly wind (Dabur) that left no living thing, underscoring the storm's role in erasing their civilization, with tafsirs further detailing it as cold and relentless.^[8] Medieval Islamic scholarship and travelogues preserved allusions to Ubar's ruins in the Empty Quarter, often equating it with Iram as a vanished emblem of ancient splendor. The 10th-century geographer Al-Hamdani, in Sifat Jazirat al-Arab, highlighted Ubar as a key site among Arabia's treasures, implying enduring legends of its buried remnants amid the dunes. While Ibn Battuta's Rihla (1325–1354) does not directly reference Ubar, his accounts of traversing southern Arabian deserts evoke the perilous, myth-shrouded terrains tied to such Quranic tales in broader Islamic lore.^[9] Within Islamic eschatology, Ubar—or Iram—embodies a perennial cautionary motif against worldly excess and defiance of divine warnings, illustrating how material opulence invites ruin and affirming the Quran's emphasis on accountability in the hereafter. The narrative of Shaddad's futile paradise-building exemplifies arrogance (takabbur), serving as a moral archetype in tafsirs to remind believers of transient power and the consequences of rejecting prophethood, much like the fates of other punished nations such as Thamud and Pharaoh.^[10]

Geography and Proposed Locations

The Rub' al-Khali Desert

The Rub' al-Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, is the world's largest continuous sand desert, covering approximately 650,000 square kilometers and extending across southeastern Saudi Arabia, as well as portions of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.^[11] This vast expanse features complex dune fields, including star dunes that can reach heights of up to 250 meters, formed by multidirectional winds that create pyramidal structures with radiating arms.^[12] The desert's immense scale and dynamic landscape have long concealed archaeological remnants, with shifting sands capable of burying entire structures over centuries. The environment of the Rub' al-Khali is exceptionally harsh, characterized by hyper-arid conditions with annual precipitation typically below 35 millimeters, making it one of the driest regions on Earth.^[13] Daytime temperatures frequently exceed 50°C during summer months, reaching as high as 55°C in extreme cases, while nocturnal drops can be dramatic, exacerbating challenges for human traversal.^[14] These factors, combined with pervasive sandstorms and the constant migration of dunes, have historically posed formidable barriers to exploration and settlement, effectively erasing surface evidence of ancient human activity. Despite its inhospitable nature, the Rub' al-Khali served as a significant obstacle to overland trade routes in antiquity, particularly for frankincense caravans that skirted its edges until around 300 CE, when increasing desertification rendered direct crossings nearly impossible.^[15] However, the desert is intermittently punctuated by oases, such as those in the bordering Dhofar region of Oman, where seasonal monsoons and fog sustain vegetation and groundwater, potentially supporting limited ancient communities along trade peripheries.^[16] Geologically, major aridification of the Rub' al-Khali intensified between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago during post-Ice Age climatic shifts on the Arabian Peninsula, transforming lake-dotted plains into expansive ergs through wind-blown sand accumulation, though initial dune formation dates to the Pleistocene.^[17] Beneath the surface lie fossil aquifers, part of the broader Mega Aquifer System, with groundwater dating back to the Pleistocene and evidenced by ancient wells that tapped into these non-renewable reserves.^[18] This subsurface hydrology hints at wetter paleoenvironments that may have briefly enabled habitation before the desert's dominance. The legendary submersion of Ubar by these encroaching sands underscores the desert's role in perpetuating myths of lost cities.^[15]

The Shisr Site in Oman

The Al-Shisr oasis, situated in Oman's Dhofar Governorate at coordinates 18°16′N 53°39′E near the Yemen border on the edge of the Rub' al-Khali (Empty Quarter), represents the primary proposed location for the legendary city of Ubar.^[19] This remote desert outpost served as a key node in ancient trade networks, particularly for frankincense, due to its strategic position amid converging caravan routes.^[19] The site's topography is characterized by a sinkhole-like depression resulting from the collapse of an underlying limestone cavern, which engulfed the central fortress and well.^[19] This geological feature created a natural basin that facilitated the accumulation of ancient structures and artifacts, while ancient wells within the depression accessed fossil groundwater reserves, enabling sustained habitation in the arid environment. NASA's satellite imagery, including Shuttle Imaging Radar and Landsat data, was instrumental in pinpointing this location by revealing hidden caravan tracks leading to the site.^[19] Prior to formal excavations, Bedouin reports from the 1980s highlighted surface evidence at Shisr, including scattered black lava stones and pottery shards, which suggested underlying human activity and drew attention from researchers. These observations aligned with earlier accounts by explorers like Bertram Thomas, who noted similar remnants during his 1930s traversals of the region.^[19] Traces of ancient irrigation and structures interpreted as animal enclosures indicate adaptations to the harsh desert conditions, supporting its role as a vital refreshment and resupply point for merchants crossing the Empty Quarter.^[19]

Alternative Proposed Locations

The identification of Ubar remains debated, with Shisr as the leading candidate based on 1990s excavations. However, other sites have been proposed, including areas in Yemen and the UAE. In May 2025, archaeologists at Saruq Al-Hadid in the UAE's Rub' al-Khali near Dubai uncovered traces of a 5,000-year-old settlement using synthetic aperture radar, including metal artifacts and middens, potentially linking to Ubar or Iram legends as an ancient trade hub buried by sands.^[20]^[21] These findings, as of November 2025, expand interpretations of Ubar's geography beyond Oman.

Historical Searches and Expeditions

Early 20th-Century Explorations

Earlier, in the 1920s, T.E. Lawrence romanticized Ubar as the "Atlantis of the Sands" in his writings, inspiring subsequent explorers.^[3] In the early 1930s, British explorer Bertram Thomas undertook the first documented Western crossing of the Rub' al-Khali desert from 1930 to 1931, traveling approximately 900 miles by camel with a small Bedouin party.^[22] During this arduous journey, Thomas collected oral accounts from Bedouin guides who described ancient caravan tracks leading toward a legendary city called Ubar, portrayed as a prosperous oasis destroyed by divine wrath, but he found no physical ruins or evidence of such a site.^[22] These stories, rooted in ancient Arabian literary traditions, fueled Thomas's interest but ultimately led him to view Ubar as a persistent myth rather than a verifiable location.^[3] Following Thomas, British explorer Wilfred Thesiger conducted multiple treks across the Rub' al-Khali between 1945 and 1950, immersing himself in Bedouin nomadic life and mapping vast unmapped regions of the desert.^[23] Accompanied by local tribesmen, Thesiger heard recurring tales of Ubar as a vanished city of wealth and sin, often linked to the biblical figure of Iram, yet he dismissed these narratives as fanciful folklore without tangible proof during his expeditions.^[23] His detailed documentation in Arabian Sands emphasized the harsh realities of desert survival over mythical pursuits, portraying Ubar as emblematic of the Bedouins' rich storytelling tradition rather than a historical reality.^[24] In the 1950s, the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco) sponsored several mapping expeditions into the Rub' al-Khali as part of broader geological surveys for oil potential, traversing and charting extensive dune fields across Saudi Arabia's southern interior.^[25] These efforts, involving teams of geologists and local guides using vehicles and aerial reconnaissance, uncovered ancient lake beds and seasonal water sources but revealed no traces of urban ruins or the fabled city of Ubar.^[25] The expeditions contributed significantly to understanding the desert's topography, yet they reinforced the absence of archaeological evidence for legendary sites like Ubar amid the shifting sands.^[25] These early explorations, blending adventure with scholarly curiosity, profoundly influenced subsequent Orientalist literature and inspired later adventurers, such as British explorer Ranulph Fiennes, who drew from Thomas's and Thesiger's accounts in his own quests into Arabian deserts during the late 20th century.^[26]

Modern Quests from 1980s to 1990s

In the early 1980s, documentary filmmaker Nicholas Clapp launched a personal quest to locate the legendary city of Ubar, drawing inspiration from T.E. Lawrence's accounts of Arabian exploration and historical texts describing ancient caravan routes across the Rub' al-Khali desert.^[5] Clapp, an amateur archaeologist with prior experience filming in the region, collaborated with local Bedouin guides who provided knowledge of remote desert paths and, during his quests spanning the 1980s and 1990s, partnered with emerging technologies, including early GPS systems in the 1990s, to aid navigation in the trackless sands.^[27] His efforts marked a shift toward more systematic, multidisciplinary approaches compared to earlier solitary ventures, emphasizing historical research and local expertise to trace potential sites.^[2] By 1992, Clapp had assembled a team including entertainment lawyer George Hedges and archaeologist Juris Zarins for a major expedition targeting the Shisr site in Oman's Dhofar province, selected based on NASA's Shuttle Imaging Radar data showing ancient trade roads converging there.^[28] The venture received funding support through Clapp's professional connections to the Disney Corporation, where he had previously produced award-winning documentaries, enabling the logistics for a multi-week ground survey involving international volunteers and Omani officials.^[29] This expedition represented a concerted push to verify Ubar's existence through on-site investigation, building on Clapp's decade-long research into Islamic and pre-Islamic lore.^[30] The team encountered significant logistical challenges, including intense sandstorms that hampered visibility and vehicle mobility, as well as protracted negotiations for excavation permissions from Omani authorities to ensure compliance with national heritage protections. Despite these obstacles, the 1992 effort yielded preliminary evidence of sustained human activity, notably surface scatters of pottery shards dating to the Frankincense trade era (circa 100–500 CE), which aligned with and confirmed the site's significance as previously identified by NASA analysis.^[28]^[2] These artifacts, including imported ceramics suggestive of regional exchange networks, provided initial confirmation of occupation at Shisr and paved the way for further excavations.

Discovery and Archaeological Findings

Role of Satellite Imagery and NASA

In the early 1990s, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) played a crucial role in locating the legendary city of Ubar by employing advanced satellite remote sensing technologies to uncover hidden archaeological features in Oman's Rub' al-Khali desert.^[27] Researchers utilized Landsat imagery, which provided high-resolution multispectral data, to initially map surface-level anomalies and ancient landscape patterns invisible to traditional ground surveys.^[2] Complementing this, the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B), from the 1984 space shuttle mission, employed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to penetrate up to several meters of sand, revealing subsurface linear features such as paleo-rivers and caravan trails that had been buried for millennia.^[27] This radar capability was particularly effective in arid environments like the Empty Quarter, where shifting dunes obscure evidence of human activity from aerial or terrestrial observation.^[19] Key JPL scientists Ronald Blom, a geologist specializing in remote sensing, and Charles Elachi, the laboratory's director of earth and space science, led the analysis of these datasets.^[28] Blom processed the imagery to trace ancient pathways, while Elachi, who had pioneered shuttle radar systems like SIR-A and SIR-B, oversaw the integration of radar data to enhance visibility of buried structures.^[5] Their collaborative efforts, initiated in response to inquiries from explorer Nicholas Clapp, focused on the Shisr region after historical texts suggested it as a potential hub.^[31] The processed images dramatically illustrated a convergence of tracks radiating toward Shisr, indicating a central node in regional transportation networks.^[2] This remote sensing breakthrough directly informed the 1992 expedition to Shisr, where Blom participated on the ground to validate satellite predictions.^[27] The analysis identified over 40 ancient caravan routes, some dating back to 3000 BCE, linking distant oases and ports, which underscored Shisr's function as a vital nexus in the frankincense trade that flourished until around 500 CE.^[2] These routes facilitated the transport of aromatic resins from southern Arabia to Mediterranean markets, highlighting Ubar's economic significance in antiquity.^[19] By demonstrating the power of space-based radar to "see through" desert sands, NASA's contributions marked a methodological milestone in archaeology, enabling non-invasive detection of lost trade infrastructures.^[27]

Excavations and Structural Discoveries

The excavations at the Shisr site in Oman, identified through satellite imagery analysis, were conducted from late 1991 to 1994 under the leadership of archaeologist Juris Zarins of Southwest Missouri State University.^[2]^[32] These digs uncovered the remains of a large octagonal stone fortress approximately 50 meters in diameter, featuring eight prominent towers at its corners and walls up to 12 feet high and 2 feet thick.^[28]^[33] Radiocarbon dating and associated pottery placed the construction of this structure between 800 and 500 BCE, during the Iron Age, indicating its role as a defensive outpost in a harsh desert environment.^[2]^[34] Among the key artifacts recovered were imported pottery shards bearing Parthian, Syrian, Greek, and Roman influences, frankincense burners, grinding stones, and evidence of domestic animal remains such as cattle and sheep, which underscored the site's function as a trade-related hub rather than a sprawling urban center.^[2]^[32] These findings suggest the fortress supported a modest permanent population of traders and defenders, serving primarily as a fortified waystation for controlling access to vital water resources.^[34] The site's layout, with surrounding tent encampments extending up to several miles, further indicates transient use by caravans while the core structure housed a small administrative and defensive contingent.^[34] Geological evidence from the excavations revealed that the fortress met a dramatic end around 300-500 CE, when the underlying limestone cavern collapsed, forming a massive sinkhole that engulfed much of the central area and buried the remains under layers of sand and rock.^[2] This sudden destruction preserved artifacts in situ but rendered the site obscure until modern archaeological intervention, aligning with its abandonment as a functional outpost.^[28] The preserved edge portions of the walls and towers provided critical insights into the engineering adapted to the region's unstable subsurface. While the findings support Shisr's role as a major trade hub, archaeologists including Zarins have noted uncertainties in definitively linking it to the legendary Ubar.^[33]^[32]

Cultural and Historical Significance

Frankincense Trade Connections

Ubar functioned as a vital depot along the Incense Road, a network of overland trade routes active from approximately 3000 BCE to 500 CE, facilitating the transport of frankincense harvested from Boswellia sacra trees in Oman's Dhofar region to Mediterranean markets via camel caravans.^[35] This strategic position at the Shisr oasis, supported by a central fortress and well, positioned Ubar as a key eastern hub linking southern Arabian producers with distant consumers in regions like Rome, Greece, and Persia.^[27] Archaeological evidence underscores Ubar's economic significance through artifacts revealing extensive barter networks, including Roman, Greek, and Syrian pottery alongside imported glassware, which were exchanged for frankincense resin.^[28] These finds also indicate integration with broader spice trades, where frankincense was swapped for Indian commodities like pepper and cloves transported via intermediary Persian routes.^[36] The site's prominence waned due to the emergence of maritime trade routes around 100 CE, which bypassed desert caravans by shipping goods directly from southern Arabian ports to Egypt and the Red Sea, alongside environmental aridification that depleted groundwater and rendered oases like Shisr unsustainable.^[35] This commerce spurred cultural exchanges across South Arabia, influencing architectural developments such as the robust fortress designs at Shisr that accommodated caravan traffic and storage, while frankincense's ritual burning in religious ceremonies shaped local practices, integrating it into temple offerings and communal rites.^[37]

Interpretations as Iram of the Pillars

In the early 1990s, filmmaker Nicholas Clapp and archaeologist Juris Zarins proposed that the archaeological site at Shisr in Oman represented the legendary city of Ubar, which they hypothesized was identical to Iram of the Pillars described in the Quran (Surah al-Fajr 89:6-8) as a city of "lofty pillars" destroyed by a divine storm.^[30] Their interpretation drew on excavations revealing an octagonal fortress with eight prominent towers, which Clapp suggested corresponded to the "pillars" (ʿimād) in the Quranic account, symbolizing architectural grandeur.^[30] Additionally, the site's apparent collapse into a large sinkhole—evidenced by stratigraphic layers and cavernous subsidence—was likened to the catastrophic windstorm that obliterated Iram, aligning the physical evidence with the scriptural narrative of divine punishment.^[30] This hypothesis generated significant excitement during the 1990s, fueled by media coverage of the satellite-assisted discovery and initial excavations, which portrayed Shisr as a tangible link between ancient mythology and archaeology. However, Zarins himself emphasized that Ubar referred more broadly to a regional trade network and its inhabitants (known as Ubarites from classical sources like Ptolemy), rather than a singular mythical city matching Iram's description.^[32] Counterarguments emerged prominently among scholars, who questioned the direct equation of Shisr with Iram, suggesting instead that the Quranic term might be metaphorical, denoting exaggerated grandeur or symbolic destruction rather than a historical locale.^[38] Some archaeologists, including those analyzing pre-Islamic Arabian topography, proposed alternative locations for Iram, such as regions in Yemen like the Abyan desert or areas between Hadramaut and Sana'a, based on classical Arabic geographical texts.^[38] Critics have highlighted the lack of epigraphic evidence tying Shisr to Iram, arguing that the site's structures were typical of regional trade outposts rather than a fabled metropolis.^[39] By the 2000s, scholarly consensus had shifted toward skepticism, viewing the initial Ubar-Iram linkage as an overinterpretation influenced by popular narratives; excavations confirmed Shisr as an important Iron Age to early Islamic trade post, but not the Quranic city.^[40] This tempered perspective reframed Ubar as a historical entity embedded in Arabian commerce, distinct from mythological embellishments.^[32] The proposed connection nonetheless propelled Ubar into public imagination through documentaries and books, such as Clapp's 1999 work The Road to Ubar, effectively merging rigorous archaeology with Quranic lore to inspire widespread interest in lost desert civilizations.^[40] This blend amplified media portrayals, including NOVA's 1994 special, but also underscored the challenges of distinguishing verifiable history from interpretive speculation in ancient Near Eastern studies.

Recent Developments and Ongoing Research

Post-2000 Satellite and Ground Surveys

Following the initial discovery facilitated by NASA radar imagery in the 1990s, post-2000 remote sensing efforts have employed higher-resolution satellite data to map the broader landscape around Shisr, revealing an extended network of ancient caravan tracks. These tracks, visible as compacted paths beneath shifting dunes, underscore Ubar's role as a central hub in the frankincense trade routes across the Rub' al-Khali desert.^[35] In May 2024, the Omani Ministry of Heritage and Tourism invited bids for the operation and management of the Ubar (Shisr) archaeological site, supporting preservation and potential further research under national heritage frameworks.^[41] The site's preservation faces growing challenges from climate change, which has intensified sand dune mobility in the Rub' al-Khali through increased aridity, stronger winds, and reduced vegetation cover, accelerating burial of exposed remains and complicating access for surveys.^[42]

2025 Discoveries Near Dubai and Expansions

In 2025, researchers from Khalifa University in the UAE used advanced remote sensing technologies, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and AI-enhanced high-resolution satellite imagery, to uncover additional buried structures and artifacts at the ongoing Saruq Al-Hadid archaeological site in the Rub' al-Khali desert near Dubai. The site, first identified in 2002, has revealed evidence of a 5,000-year-old settlement with metalworking activities, including copper smelting remnants and animal bone deposits indicating sustained habitation.^[43]^[20] Drone-assisted ground validation has mapped potential outposts, which may represent ancient trading posts in the region. The findings evoke comparisons to the legendary city of Ubar, known as the "Atlantis of the Sands," due to the site's location in the same desert and its role in ancient networks, though no direct connection has been established.^[43]^[20] Funded by Dubai Culture and local authorities, ongoing excavations at the site aim to further explore these features, with radiocarbon dating confirming occupation from the 3rd millennium BCE, contributing to understanding southeastern Arabian prehistory.^[43]

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The Frankincense Trail was a trade route for resins, essential for religious, cosmetic, and medicinal uses, and was as important as the Silk Road.
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[PDF] Biblical Elements in Koran 89, 6-8 and Its Exegeses - Almuslih
Abstract he meaning of the expression “Iram of the pillars” which is found in Kor 89, 7 has been the subject of many debates among ancient Muslim exegetes.
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Introduction: The Lost World of the Southern Crescent - ResearchGate
G R Smith; GR Smith. The road to Ubar: Finding the Atlantis of the sands. N Clapp. Die Alte Arabiens als Grundlage der entwicklunsgeschichte des Semitismus.
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Nicholas Clapp, 89, Dies; 'Real-Life Indiana Jones' Pursued a Lost ...
Aug 7, 2025 · The Quran refers to a mythic place named Iram, which Mr. Clapp believed was “one and the same” as Ubar, though there was not a scholarly ...
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The Case Study of Bisya and Salūt Archaeological Site (Sultanate of ...
We present the results of a Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey conducted at the archaeological site of Bisya and Salūt (Sultanate of Oman), ...
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Climate Change Is Burying Archaeological Sites Under Tons of Sand
Sep 29, 2022 · “The threat has been exacerbated by climate change, which has made ... in low-lying coastal regions of the Mediterranean are at risk of erosion.
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Hidden city built 5,000 years ago discovered underneath vast desert
### Summary of 2025 Discovery in the Empty Quarter near Dubai
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Secret city near Dubai discovered underneath empty desert - LADbible
May 24, 2025 · Researchers think that they have found traces of an astonishing secret city built 5,000 years ago as archaeological work on a desert site ...