Bridging Gaps in Heritage Interpretation: Insights from Local Perception and Geospatial Analysis in the Dadanitic Inscriptions Landscape of AlUla

Abstract. This study explores how the local perception and geospatial analysis can each contribute to building more comprehensive interpretations of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Drawing on a broader PhD project conducted in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), this paper presents findings from two distinct yet complementary approaches. The first part involves a national survey assessing public awareness, engagement, emotional connection, and attitudes toward pre-Islamic heritage. Results reveal limited familiarity with the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms, yet highlight strong identity-based connections to heritage and a positive attitude towards digital tools for engagement, emphasising the need for interpretive strategies that bridge archaeological knowledge with community perspectives. The second part applies geospatial analysis to examine the environmental context of Dadanitic inscription placement, analysing elevation, orientation, and solar exposure. The results suggest that inscriptions were not randomly distributed but may have been deliberately placed in environmentally favourable locations. Together, these findings support the development of interpretation strategies that are historically informed, locally meaningful and attentive to the spatial context of the heritage landscape.