Hegra in AlUla highlights first facial reconstruction of Nabataean woman
- 3 hours ago
- 1 min read
ALULA, March 27, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Hegra in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to rock-cut Nabataean tombs dating back to the first century A.D. and now also highlights the story of Hina bint Wahb, whose face has been reconstructed using modern techniques.
According to the Royal Commission for AlUla, the archaeological site contains around 141 rock-cut tombs, 93 of them with carved façades decorated with geometric motifs and inscriptions reflecting the religious and social life of the time.
Archaeologists have also uncovered the remains of about 80 individuals in a single tomb. Among the most notable discoveries are the remains of Hina bint Wahb in the Jabal Al-Ahmar tomb group.
Under the supervision of the Royal Commission for AlUla, an international team including archaeologists specialising in Nabataean civilisation reconstructed her facial features using modern methods, in what is described as the world’s first facial reconstruction of a Nabataean woman.
Her story is now presented at Hegra’s visitor centre as part of an experience highlighting the human dimension of the site’s civilisational legacy.
