Saudi archaeologist Abdulrahman Al-Ansari built an academic school for heritage

Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Tayeb Al-Ansari established the first independent department for archaeology and museums at King Saud University in 1978.

After earning a doctorate from the University of Leeds in 1966, Al-Ansari returned to Saudi Arabia to move archaeological study from a personal interest into a structured academic field. He integrated archaeology into the history department before creating a dedicated space for the discipline, which became the first of its kind in the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula.

Al-Ansari led excavation work at the village of Al-Faw, located south of the Riyadh region, from 1972 to 1995. These excavations revealed ancient city landmarks and evidence of trade routes and social life in the southern Arabian Peninsula. He used the site as an open classroom where students participated in field research to learn how to document, analyze, and interpret physical evidence rather than just collecting artifacts.

To build a diverse scientific foundation, Al-Ansari sent Saudi students to study in various countries, including Germany, Britain, France, Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Australia, and Egypt. He also recruited international professors from different academic traditions to create a multi-perspective environment. He focused heavily on ancient inscriptions and writings, viewing them as primary historical sources to understand the history of the Arabian Peninsula through linguistic and architectural analysis.