ASEER: Intricately designed wooden doors in the Aseer region are more than a mere means of entry for they provide a reflection of the area’s rich artistic heritage.

The doors display exceptional craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations, showcasing the unique skills and creativity of local artisans.

Researchers in architecture highlight these intricately decorated doors as essential components of the area’s architectural heritage.

In an interview with the Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Ali Marzouq, a professor of archaeology and Islamic arts at King Khalid University, spoke of the cultural significance of this art form.

He said: “People find psychological comfort in beautifying their possessions. The decorative motifs typical of Islamic architecture, including engravings and inscriptions, have become integral to building design, enhancing both functionality and aesthetic appeal.”

The artistry involved in carving and engraving wooden doors has elevated them to symbols of social status.

Marzouq said that the main door holds significant importance, serving as a reflection of the owner’s wealth and prestige. Elaborately adorned doors made from high-quality woods are typically found in the homes of the affluent, while simpler designs are more prevalent among average households.

This tradition continues today, with many people updating their door decorations for holidays and special events. In the coastal Tihama region, some residents enhance their main entrances by planting aromatic plants, adding a delightful fragrance.

Decorative elements on wooden doors and windows have been central to the architectural identity of the Arabian Peninsula since ancient times. These embellishments not only highlight the skill of the artisans but also serve as effective marketing for their craftsmanship.

Dr. Saleh Abu Arad, a researcher in the field, echoed Marzouq’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the “door and window industry” as a skilled trade that utilized local wood and various techniques to create doors and windows of diverse sizes. These architectural elements are often enriched with exquisite engravings and metal accents, such as handles and rings.

The choice of wood plays a crucial role in the final product’s quality. The talh tree, also known as the red acacia, which is renowned for its dense and cohesive fibers, is favored for crafting high-quality doors and intricate designs.

Carpenters have excelled in engraving beautiful decorations on both exterior and interior doors, utilizing the unique properties of the wood.

Traditionally, the decoration of internal wooden doors and windows is a task undertaken by the housewife, with assistance from female relatives and neighbors. These decorations feature a range of geometric, botanical, and symbolic motifs, contributing to a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests and visitors.

The Aseer region boasts a vibrant tradition of skilled carpenters who have mastered the craft of creating traditional architectural doors and windows. Inspired by their natural environment, these artisans incorporate a diverse array of detailed patterns and botanical designs into their work, intentionally avoiding human or animal imagery.

Researcher Maryam Al-Omari says popular designs often feature geometric shapes such as triangles and diamonds, which are intricately combined to enhance the overall aesthetic.

Acknowledging the significance of safeguarding this area of cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture republished the works of the French professor Thierry Mouget in 2021. His comprehensive photographic records of southern Saudi Arabia from the 1980s showcase the region’s architectural styles, historical legacies, social dynamics, and customs, shedding light on the rich cultural fabric of the Aseer region.

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission stressed that it will stand firmly against people who tamper with archeological sites, taking legal measures against them and preventing any transgressions that pose a threat to the safety of the Kingdom’s heritage.

In the past week, the commission observed several violations of the antiquities and urban heritage regulations in Al-Wajh governorate in the Tabuk region and referred 23 expatriates to the relevant authorities.

The Heritage Commission explained that the encroachments were observed on the Umm Qurayyat and Al-Arja sites in Al-Wajh, Tabuk.

The violators moved stones and soil from an archeological site, it noted, adding that authorities will take legal measures against them.

The commission noted that it arrested numerous individuals who were involved in similar violations and investigations are underway in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.

In its statement to Arab News, it emphasized that its mission is to protect and effectively manage the Kingdom’s cultural wealth and archaeological sites, by enforcing laws and regulations that ensure the protection of these sites.

The commission also seeks to raise local communities’ awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage as an integral part of the nation’s historical identity.

The Heritage Commission outlined the penalties for vandalism and attacks on heritage sites, as stipulated in Articles 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 of the Antiquities and Urban Heritage Law.

According to these regulations, anyone who illegally appropriates an antiquity belonging to the state faces imprisonment for a period ranging from six months to seven years, and fines of between SR50,000 ($13,300) and SR500,000.

In addition, the articles stipulate that anyone who violates a monument, archeological site or urban heritage site by destroying, altering, removing, excavating, damaging and changing its features, can be punished with imprisonment for a period ranging from three months to three years, and a fine between SR20,000 and SR300,0000.

The commission added in its statement: “Anyone who surveys or excavates antiquities without a license faces imprisonment for a period of not more than two years and a fine of not more than SR200,000 or with one of these two punishments.

“Similar penalties apply to anyone who imitates or falsifies antiquity or performs any of the total or partial demolition works within the boundaries of antiquities and urban heritage sites, or builds on them, without obtaining approval from the ministry.”

It indicated that anyone who modifies a building or an urban heritage site, makes a modification in the surrounding environment that damages it without taking the ministry's approval or moves rubble, stones, or soil from monuments and urban heritage sites without the ministry’s approval, faces imprisonment for not more than a year and a fine not exceeding SR100,000 or one of these two penalties.

Similar sanctions apply to anyone who throws rubble or waste, defaces a monument or urban heritage by writing, painting, engraving, sticking advertisements on it, or committing arson in monuments and urban heritage sites.