Archaeological Sites of the Kingdom of Qataban in Behan

The Kingdom of Qataban emerged around the beginning of the first millennium BCE, contemporaneous with the kingdoms of Saba, Awsan, and Hadramawt. It arose in what is now known as Bayhan, within the Shabwah Governorate. The kingdom’s main valleys in this region include Wadi al-Nahr—its principal wadi—passing through the modern town of al-Alya (the capital of Bayhan District today) and referred to in inscriptions as "BRM." The second major wadi is that which flows through the area of Mawqis, known today as Wadi Khir, but recorded in inscriptions as "AKHR."

At the confluence of these two wadis, northeast of al-Alya, the valley becomes known as Wadi Bayhan, on the eastern bank of which stood the city of Dhat Ghaylam (modern Hajar bin Hamid), the last capital of the Qatabanian kingdom. The wadi continues northeast toward the Ramlat al-Sabatin desert. Approximately 14 kilometers further north lies the city of Timna, the first capital of Qataban, founded on the western bank of Wadi Bayhan. The Qatabanian necropolis at Hayd bin Aqil is situated 1 km east of Timna.

In addition to these, more than fifteen Qatabanian cities are distributed along the banks of wadis such as Jibah, al-Sufra, Arrah, Jaf, Sarban, Aybtayn, Shahuh, and others. A third major valley is Wadi Ayn, where the important ancient city of Haribat is located—identified today as the ruins of Hanu al-Zurayr. Also of significance are Hajar al-Kahilah and the stone-paved trade road of Najd Marqad northeast of Hanu al-Zurayr, part of the ancient commercial corridor between Timna and Haribat. The Qatabanian Kingdom expanded its territory to include areas such as Marakhah, Dara, and Abdān, reaching as far as the Gulf of Aden and other regions not enumerated here. This proposal highlights three major cities established in Qataban’s heartland, whose archaeological remains remain visible today:

1. Timna (modern Hajar Kahlan): First Capital of the Kingdom

Coordinates: 15°1'12.23"N, 45°48'20.52"E

Like other ancient South Arabian cities, Timna was strategically located at the entrance to a wadi opening onto the desert, allowing it to benefit from abundant rainfall for agriculture while also overseeing trans-desert trade routes. The city dates back to at least the 7th century BCE and is among the most expansive ancient settlements. It is situated approximately 20 meters above the bed of Wadi Bayhan and has an elliptical layout measuring approximately 350 by 700 meters.

Surface evidence includes architectural remains, two gates (north and south), and a variety of structures linked to religious worship, trade, housing, public squares, and defensive fortifications. Excavations were initially conducted by an American archaeological mission in the 1950s and continued by the Italian-French mission between 1999 and 2010 before being halted due to conflict. The site remains one of the largest and most visible archaeological locations from the Qatabanian era.

2. Haribat (modern Hajar Hanu al-Zurayr): Commercial Capital of the Kingdom

Coordinates: 14°53'31.56"N, 45°30'49.14"E

Situated in the Ayn District of Shabwah Governorate, approximately 6 kilometers north of Hajb (the district capital), this city served as an important administrative, religious, and commercial center. Haribat overlooks extensive irrigated agricultural lands fed by Wadi Ayn and the northern reaches of Wadi Harib. The city is rectangular in shape (approximately 295 meters east-west by 200 meters north-south).

South of its fortified enclosure lies an outer residential settlement likely inhabited by lower social strata. The city lay along the caravan route connecting Timna and Haribat via the stone-paved mountain pass of Najd Marqad. Its architecture is distinguished by interconnected residential and commercial buildings with defensive projections and recesses forming an integral fortified perimeter. Central spaces within the city were reserved for loading and unloading caravans, and large warehouses used by elite traders and rulers.

3. Dhat Ghaylam (modern Hajar bin Hamid): Final Capital of the Kingdom

Coordinates: 14°54'30.50"N, 45°45'32.02"E

Dhat Ghaylam is located on the eastern bank of Wadi Bayhan, facing the trade route to Haribat via the stone-paved Aqabat Mablaq, approximately 3 kilometers away. It is also about 14 kilometers south of Timna and 13 kilometers north of al-Alya. The site sits atop a 15-meter-high tell overlooking expansive agricultural lands irrigated by a network of canals and dams, such as the Badi and Shaab al-Dhiab dams. Over twenty wells have been identified in the area north of the site.

The American mission for the study of early human societies conducted pottery soundings in the western sector of the site. The city remains largely untouched beneath the soil, preserving its integrity. However, it is vulnerable to erosion and flash floods unless protective measures are implemented.

The sites feature sophisticated construction techniques, with defensive fortifications, trade infrastructure, and urban layouts that reflect early South Arabian architectural ingenuity.

Timna’s central market contains a commercial code inscribed in Musnad script on a stone stele, dating to the 4th century BCE. This document regulated internal and external trade and is one of the earliest known commercial legal codes in Arabia.

The area hosts the oldest known cemetery in Yemen, dating to the 8th–7th centuries BCE.

With 65 temples documented, Dhat Ghaylam stands as the city with the highest concentration of religious architecture recorded in the ancient world.

These cities functioned as major trade hubs for caravan routes, combining residential, religious, and commercial functions and linked by paved roads and economic interests.

Criterion (iii): The properties bear exceptional testimony to the Qatabanian civilization, a prominent South Arabian culture that flourished in antiquity.

Criterion (iv):They represent outstanding examples of ancient urban planning, architectural coherence, and economic organization developed in a desert environment.

These cities, in both form and design, constitute a continuous series of ancient settlements that have preserved their urban and architectural layouts as well as their internal components. They represent a model of caravan cities in ancient Yemen, serving both as political centers of the state and as major waystations for trade caravans.

Many of the essential elements of these cities remain intact, reflecting the historical significance of these sites. Despite decades of neglect, they have retained all the features that convey their Outstanding Universal Value. The Shammar Market in the center of Timna, along with the Qatabanian commercial law stele, remains standing to this day. Additionally, temples, public squares, and streets are still present and visibly attest to the authenticity and historical continuity of the cities.