German-Yemeni Expedition at Zafar, Capital of Himyar

The expedition of Heidelberg University and the University of Applied Sciences in Mainz began its fifth campaign this week. The six-man team works under the auspices of the General Organisation for Archaeology and Museums in Sanaa. They are in Zafar for the purpose of mapping and exploring the ancient mountainous capital city of Himyar. The team worked at Zafar in 1980, 2000, 2002, 2003, and again this year. In 2002 the museum, built in 1975, was reinstalled with English-Arabic posters and new exhibits. Well 1200 reliefs and inscriptions in the museum collection is unique and for the late Himyarite period the only one of its kind.

This work is important, for the site is still subjected to stone robbing even though it is under state protection. Few are aware of the importance of the ancient capital Zafar. After about 280 CE all of the Old South Arabian states had dissolved, one after the other. Himyar came out on top, dominating even Marib of the Sabaeans. During the 4th and 5th centuries AD Himyar and its protectorates dominated most of Arabia. Trade in aromatics and luxury goods between East and West were the source of the wealth.

The emphases of the expedition are the excavation of a large palatial complex on the west side of the Husn Raydan. To the main finds belong life-size representations of human figures and animals. The mapping of the entire ancient capital is nearing completion. This helps to understand what the ancient capital looked like. A salvage excavation also took place at nearby al-Irafah, where locals broke into a late Himyarite shaft tomb. The tomb is 14m deep and is the largest of its kind in Arabia. Numerous finds came to light here. The most interesting one is a copper bridle inlaid with silver name-monogrammes written in Sabaean. Remains of two iron coffins came to light.

The excavation and mapping have gone well over the years and the inhabitants in Zafar profit from it. It is hoped that the site will become a tourist attraction. One result of the work is that the road to Zafar has been upgraded. Electricity is to come to the area as well. Paul Yule, the leader of the team, claims that the main problem facing the team is the daily rains in this place, poised at 2800m altitude.

Dr. Paul Yule