Documenting and Digitally Providing Inscriptions and Scripts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A Case Study of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Project

Abstract

Preserving cultural heritage is fundamental to sustaining the accumulated knowledge and values across ages, and it contributes to enhancing cultural diversity and mutual understanding among peoples. Information technology, especially the internet, plays an important role in digitizing documentary and cultural heritage and making it accessible to current and future generations. The "Digital Library of Inscriptions and Scripts" project at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a pioneering model, as it creates a digital record of writings and inscriptions on buildings and archaeological artifacts throughout history, with high-resolution images, accurate metadata, and information about their original sources. It covers multiple classifications including rock inscriptions, writing tools and materials, architectural elements, manuscripts, and coins.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the most prominent countries in the Arab world rich in its cultural and documentary heritage. The uniqueness of this heritage lies in its ancient rock inscriptions that document the early origins of the Arabic language and its alphabet, representing a cornerstone in the cultural development of the Kingdom and the Arab region in general. Researchers have documented through the project's website the existence of 577 artifacts representing Saudi heritage, varying between tools (such as clay molds), architectural elements (like door parts, tombstones, and columns), coins, religious and funerary inscriptions, manuscripts, and textiles (such as the Kiswah of the Kaaba).

The researchers adopted a descriptive method to construct the theoretical framework, and the content analysis method to study the components of the digital library. The study concluded that the project effectively contributes to preserving the heritage of inscriptions and scripts and serves as a model that can be generalized and supported by relevant institutions.