[Music] the journey has been tough all the time
the journey has been tough all the time
the journey has been tough all the time we had to move away rocks to make way
we had to move away rocks to make way
we had to move away rocks to make way for the truck how are we going to spend
for the truck how are we going to spend
for the truck how are we going to spend the night all around us this landscape
the night all around us this landscape
the night all around us this landscape of dark brown stone and sometimes a Wadi
of dark brown stone and sometimes a Wadi
of dark brown stone and sometimes a Wadi where sands and small plants are
where sands and small plants are
where sands and small plants are entangled now the night is falling and
entangled now the night is falling and
entangled now the night is falling and we can’t see our destination yet we are
we can’t see our destination yet we are
we can’t see our destination yet we are blocked the engine stalls about 30 times
blocked the engine stalls about 30 times
blocked the engine stalls about 30 times we uproot bushes and we go again
we uproot bushes and we go again
we uproot bushes and we go again finally we reach the first well and then
finally we reach the first well and then
finally we reach the first well and then a second one full of sin the night is
a second one full of sin the night is
a second one full of sin the night is cold
this diary fragments of the Belgian
this diary fragments of the Belgian professor Eggman’s quite nicely
professor Eggman’s quite nicely
professor Eggman’s quite nicely demonstrates the challenges the Philby
demonstrates the challenges the Philby
demonstrates the challenges the Philby reg’ment sleeping’s expedition faced
reg’ment sleeping’s expedition faced
reg’ment sleeping’s expedition faced while exploring the Arabian deserts for
while exploring the Arabian deserts for
while exploring the Arabian deserts for lost civilizations back in the 1950s but
lost civilizations back in the 1950s but
lost civilizations back in the 1950s but today we will tell our story it’s a
today we will tell our story it’s a
today we will tell our story it’s a story about following into the footsteps
story about following into the footsteps
story about following into the footsteps of the great explorers of the Middle
of the great explorers of the Middle
of the great explorers of the Middle East’s it’s a story about dedication and
East’s it’s a story about dedication and
East’s it’s a story about dedication and creativity of research teams working in
creativity of research teams working in
creativity of research teams working in desolate parts of the world and this a
desolate parts of the world and this a
desolate parts of the world and this a story about testing our own hypothesis
story about testing our own hypothesis
story about testing our own hypothesis in dazzling landscapes of the Arabian
in dazzling landscapes of the Arabian
in dazzling landscapes of the Arabian desert we want to show the world that
desert we want to show the world that
desert we want to show the world that history is not only book knowledge but
history is not only book knowledge but
history is not only book knowledge but reconstructing history often depends on
reconstructing history often depends on
reconstructing history often depends on exploring those areas where hardly any
exploring those areas where hardly any
exploring those areas where hardly any scholar has gone before
the Middle East is the region that has
the Middle East is the region that has harbored the most ancient civilizations
harbored the most ancient civilizations
harbored the most ancient civilizations in the world so
in the world so
in the world so just Egypt Mesopotamia and Persia and it
just Egypt Mesopotamia and Persia and it
just Egypt Mesopotamia and Persia and it is known for its magnificent cultural
is known for its magnificent cultural
is known for its magnificent cultural heritage certainly most of you have
heritage certainly most of you have
heritage certainly most of you have heard about the pyramids right and maybe
heard about the pyramids right and maybe
heard about the pyramids right and maybe the Ishtar Gate and what about
the Ishtar Gate and what about
the Ishtar Gate and what about Persepolis yet nowadays the Middle East
Persepolis yet nowadays the Middle East
Persepolis yet nowadays the Middle East is especially known but because of its
is especially known but because of its
is especially known but because of its military conflicts that cause a lot of
military conflicts that cause a lot of
military conflicts that cause a lot of human suffering and they also endanger
human suffering and they also endanger
human suffering and they also endanger the cultural heritage of this area and
the cultural heritage of this area and
the cultural heritage of this area and that is why it has a severe impact on
that is why it has a severe impact on
that is why it has a severe impact on the work of many scholars like ourselves
the work of many scholars like ourselves
the work of many scholars like ourselves yet there are still unexpected parts of
yet there are still unexpected parts of
yet there are still unexpected parts of the Middle East where it is worth
the Middle East where it is worth
the Middle East where it is worth picking up the challenge and that is
picking up the challenge and that is
picking up the challenge and that is exactly what we are doing right now and
exactly what we are doing right now and
exactly what we are doing right now and one such place is the Arabian Peninsula
one such place is the Arabian Peninsula
one such place is the Arabian Peninsula in fact most people know the Arabian
in fact most people know the Arabian
in fact most people know the Arabian Peninsula as the cradle of Islam and
Peninsula as the cradle of Islam and
Peninsula as the cradle of Islam and world’s largest oil reserve at what was
world’s largest oil reserve at what was
world’s largest oil reserve at what was there before Arabia is often indicated
there before Arabia is often indicated
there before Arabia is often indicated as a blind spot on the historical map of
as a blind spot on the historical map of
as a blind spot on the historical map of the ancient world but if you look
the ancient world but if you look
the ancient world but if you look closely at the map you can see that
closely at the map you can see that
closely at the map you can see that Arabia is located exactly between
Arabia is located exactly between
Arabia is located exactly between Mesopotamia Persia and Egypt so it seems
Mesopotamia Persia and Egypt so it seems
Mesopotamia Persia and Egypt so it seems only logical that Arabia connected these
only logical that Arabia connected these
only logical that Arabia connected these ancient civilizations somehow a survey
ancient civilizations somehow a survey
ancient civilizations somehow a survey of these regions may result in finding
of these regions may result in finding
of these regions may result in finding back it’s a missing link between these
back it’s a missing link between these
back it’s a missing link between these ancient civilizations and contribute to
ancient civilizations and contribute to
ancient civilizations and contribute to our future historical knowledge and that
our future historical knowledge and that
our future historical knowledge and that is what we want to share with you today
is what we want to share with you today
is what we want to share with you today so you understood that our big idea is
so you understood that our big idea is
so you understood that our big idea is that Arabia could be this missing link
that Arabia could be this missing link
that Arabia could be this missing link between the ancient civilisations of
between the ancient civilisations of
between the ancient civilisations of Egypt Persia and as a put in Mesopotamia
Egypt Persia and as a put in Mesopotamia
Egypt Persia and as a put in Mesopotamia in fact their evidence that people
in fact their evidence that people
in fact their evidence that people travelled in the ancient world and by
travelled in the ancient world and by
travelled in the ancient world and by doing so estab
doing so estab
doing so estab connections between cultures for
connections between cultures for
connections between cultures for instance the incense routes along the
instance the incense routes along the
instance the incense routes along the coastlines of Arabia are well known
coastlines of Arabia are well known
coastlines of Arabia are well known through Roman history and so far
through Roman history and so far
through Roman history and so far historians mostly focused on those
historians mostly focused on those
historians mostly focused on those coastal regions but what about the roads
coastal regions but what about the roads
coastal regions but what about the roads across the Arabian Peninsula actually
across the Arabian Peninsula actually
across the Arabian Peninsula actually our team has already worked there and
our team has already worked there and
our team has already worked there and there we found traces of intense trade
there we found traces of intense trade
there we found traces of intense trade along Caravan routes connecting these
along Caravan routes connecting these
along Caravan routes connecting these ancient civilization through the Arabian
ancient civilization through the Arabian
ancient civilization through the Arabian desert so why do we call it the missing
desert so why do we call it the missing
desert so why do we call it the missing link because nobody got into it yet we
link because nobody got into it yet we
link because nobody got into it yet we could even say that in terms of
could even say that in terms of
could even say that in terms of historical research Arabia is a terra
historical research Arabia is a terra
historical research Arabia is a terra incognita until oil was found this
incognita until oil was found this
incognita until oil was found this particular region was no importance of
particular region was no importance of
particular region was no importance of the for the world there are no pyramids
the for the world there are no pyramids
the for the world there are no pyramids and the climate is not inviting either
and the climate is not inviting either
and the climate is not inviting either so you can understand why historians are
so you can understand why historians are
so you can understand why historians are not too keen for a research there well
not too keen for a research there well
not too keen for a research there well isn’t it time to do something about it
isn’t it time to do something about it
isn’t it time to do something about it then sure
then sure
then sure no burning Sun no freezing nights no
no burning Sun no freezing nights no
no burning Sun no freezing nights no scorpions and no barren landscape will
scorpions and no barren landscape will
scorpions and no barren landscape will stop us even though our methods or quite
stop us even though our methods or quite
stop us even though our methods or quite different than those of the early
different than those of the early
different than those of the early explorers in the early 20th century
explorers in the early 20th century
explorers in the early 20th century explorers could go on for months
explorers could go on for months
explorers could go on for months sponsored expeditions insert in search
sponsored expeditions insert in search
sponsored expeditions insert in search of lost civilizations today though we
of lost civilizations today though we
of lost civilizations today though we need a precise plan a detailed routes a
need a precise plan a detailed routes a
need a precise plan a detailed routes a timetable a most important evidence for
timetable a most important evidence for
timetable a most important evidence for our working hypothesis so how did we do
our working hypothesis so how did we do
our working hypothesis so how did we do that and where their own journey start
that and where their own journey start
that and where their own journey start our own journey started in the archive
our own journey started in the archive
our own journey started in the archive of the University of Leuven which
of the University of Leuven which
of the University of Leuven which preserves the old records of the first
preserves the old records of the first
preserves the old records of the first scientific expedition to
scientific expedition to
scientific expedition to Saudi Arabia back in the 50s for
Saudi Arabia back in the 50s for
Saudi Arabia back in the 50s for explorers were personally invited by
explorers were personally invited by
explorers were personally invited by King Abdul Aziz in order to investigate
King Abdul Aziz in order to investigate
King Abdul Aziz in order to investigate the pre-islamic heritage of his country
the pre-islamic heritage of his country
the pre-islamic heritage of his country and that was a big adventure the team
and that was a big adventure the team
and that was a big adventure the team consisted of goon zach reichman’s and
consisted of goon zach reichman’s and
consisted of goon zach reichman’s and his nephew jack who were both professors
his nephew jack who were both professors
his nephew jack who were both professors at the university of leuven Philippines
at the university of leuven Philippines
at the university of leuven Philippines a Belgian officer and last but not least
a Belgian officer and last but not least
a Belgian officer and last but not least hairy cynjohn Philby who was a British
hairy cynjohn Philby who was a British
hairy cynjohn Philby who was a British explorer and a former secret agent who
explorer and a former secret agent who
explorer and a former secret agent who had previously worked with Lawrence of
had previously worked with Lawrence of
had previously worked with Lawrence of Arabia himself well before them scholars
Arabia himself well before them scholars
Arabia himself well before them scholars used to think that ancient Arabia was a
used to think that ancient Arabia was a
used to think that ancient Arabia was a society without writing but the Philby
society without writing but the Philby
society without writing but the Philby Reitman slip-ons expedition from our
Reitman slip-ons expedition from our
Reitman slip-ons expedition from our university proved exactly the contrary
university proved exactly the contrary
university proved exactly the contrary they discovered that in antiquity people
they discovered that in antiquity people
they discovered that in antiquity people in the Arabian desert made extensive use
in the Arabian desert made extensive use
in the Arabian desert made extensive use of writing among mighty sand dunes and
of writing among mighty sand dunes and
of writing among mighty sand dunes and rocky desert these four gentlemen made a
rocky desert these four gentlemen made a
rocky desert these four gentlemen made a journey of more than 5,400 kilometres
journey of more than 5,400 kilometres
journey of more than 5,400 kilometres from Jeddah to Riyadh across the desert
from Jeddah to Riyadh across the desert
from Jeddah to Riyadh across the desert the Saudi desert in search of
the Saudi desert in search of
the Saudi desert in search of petroglyphs rock art and inscriptions
petroglyphs rock art and inscriptions
petroglyphs rock art and inscriptions and during the three months of research
and during the three months of research
and during the three months of research they recorded over 12,000 pre-islamic
they recorded over 12,000 pre-islamic
they recorded over 12,000 pre-islamic texts written in a variety of ancient
texts written in a variety of ancient
texts written in a variety of ancient Arabian scripts and languages these
Arabian scripts and languages these
Arabian scripts and languages these inscriptions they contain mainly proper
inscriptions they contain mainly proper
inscriptions they contain mainly proper names and these guys in the inscriptions
names and these guys in the inscriptions
names and these guys in the inscriptions they belong to the various tribes which
they belong to the various tribes which
they belong to the various tribes which used to live in the Arabian Peninsula in
used to live in the Arabian Peninsula in
used to live in the Arabian Peninsula in antiquity and each of these tribes has
antiquity and each of these tribes has
antiquity and each of these tribes has its own dialect
its own dialect
its own dialect so after the retirement of professor
so after the retirement of professor
so after the retirement of professor Shakir Eggman’s the notes the maps
Shakir Eggman’s the notes the maps
Shakir Eggman’s the notes the maps pictures and correspondence of the team
pictures and correspondence of the team
pictures and correspondence of the team were donated to the Oriental Institute
were donated to the Oriental Institute
were donated to the Oriental Institute of our University and
of our University and
of our University and served in its archives it is this
served in its archives it is this
served in its archives it is this reg’ment archive that holds a treasure
reg’ment archive that holds a treasure
reg’ment archive that holds a treasure of indispensable information for
of indispensable information for
of indispensable information for preparing our own journey to the Arabian
preparing our own journey to the Arabian
preparing our own journey to the Arabian desert and it is this archive that will
desert and it is this archive that will
desert and it is this archive that will be our Lonely Planet guides around on
be our Lonely Planet guides around on
be our Lonely Planet guides around on our big adventure our adventure in
our big adventure our adventure in
our big adventure our adventure in search of the missing link physically
search of the missing link physically
search of the missing link physically connecting Mesopotamia Persia and Egypt
connecting Mesopotamia Persia and Egypt
connecting Mesopotamia Persia and Egypt more precisely the ancient strands
more precisely the ancient strands
more precisely the ancient strands Arabian trade routes there are four
Arabian trade routes there are four
Arabian trade routes there are four arguments why we believe that there were
arguments why we believe that there were
arguments why we believe that there were trans arabian trade routes in addition
trans arabian trade routes in addition
trans arabian trade routes in addition to the coastal ida itineraries first the
to the coastal ida itineraries first the
to the coastal ida itineraries first the huge number of inscriptions prove that
huge number of inscriptions prove that
huge number of inscriptions prove that there that people used stop by these
there that people used stop by these
there that people used stop by these desert rocks second there are a lot of
desert rocks second there are a lot of
desert rocks second there are a lot of camels depicted on the rock art which
camels depicted on the rock art which
camels depicted on the rock art which are the perfect animals for long
are the perfect animals for long
are the perfect animals for long distance travels third we know that in
distance travels third we know that in
distance travels third we know that in antiquity the climate was much milder
antiquity the climate was much milder
antiquity the climate was much milder than it is nowadays and fourth the fill
than it is nowadays and fourth the fill
than it is nowadays and fourth the fill beer Eggman’s livens mission recorded a
beer Eggman’s livens mission recorded a
beer Eggman’s livens mission recorded a lot of wells and Springs in the middle
lot of wells and Springs in the middle
lot of wells and Springs in the middle of the desert since the team members of
of the desert since the team members of
of the desert since the team members of the 50 Aragon’s livens mission were so
the 50 Aragon’s livens mission were so
the 50 Aragon’s livens mission were so busy documenting all those inscriptions
busy documenting all those inscriptions
busy documenting all those inscriptions they did not realize that it that maps
they did not realize that it that maps
they did not realize that it that maps they had room actually contain parts of
they had room actually contain parts of
they had room actually contain parts of things of these ancient trans arabian
things of these ancient trans arabian
things of these ancient trans arabian trade routes
trade routes
trade routes well we tell a story like so many
well we tell a story like so many
well we tell a story like so many scholars do and we want the same thing
scholars do and we want the same thing
scholars do and we want the same thing that so many scholars want we want to go
that so many scholars want we want to go
that so many scholars want we want to go there and want to explore we have strong
there and want to explore we have strong
there and want to explore we have strong indication that it will be worth it
indication that it will be worth it
indication that it will be worth it haven’t we but I’ll be sure of that
haven’t we but I’ll be sure of that
haven’t we but I’ll be sure of that no of course
no of course
no of course not that is what science is about
not that is what science is about
not that is what science is about however we need to move forward in the
however we need to move forward in the
however we need to move forward in the face of uncertainty
face of uncertainty
face of uncertainty maybe we’ll discover nothing but sand
maybe we’ll discover nothing but sand
maybe we’ll discover nothing but sand and rocks but maybe what we will
and rocks but maybe what we will
and rocks but maybe what we will discover there will shed an entirely new
discover there will shed an entirely new
discover there will shed an entirely new light on history and hopefully inshallah
light on history and hopefully inshallah
light on history and hopefully inshallah you will see the results in the
you will see the results in the
you will see the results in the newspapers thank you
newspapers thank you
newspapers thank you [Applause]
”
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