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Japanese archaeologists
discovered earlier this year what might be the oldest known Islamic
carvings in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. They were carved on a rock
wall.
Middle Eastern Culture Center
The Japanese team were from the Middle Eastern Culture Center in
Japan and say that their latest finding is five years older than an inscription
currently held to be the earliest.
The previous inscription is located on the outskirts
of Mecca and dates to around 660 A.D.
"Sana 35 Sana"
The
latest finding in Sinai reads "Sana 35 Sana," referring to
the 35th year after Hijra and is believed to
be the work of travelling pilgrims on their
way to Mecca for Hajj
The team has so far found 1,680 inscriptions at the site located
on a mountain in south western Sinai.
Team Leader Mutsuo Kawatoko
Team leader Mutsuo Kawatoko said:
"Nothing conclusive can be said at this
point until after the writing style and other elements have been
verified."
"The discovery of several inscriptions with dates is very
rare. From these specified dates, we
can understand the movements and activity of the
people at the time," said Kawatoko.
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