RCU launches 2026-2027 Archaeology Season across AlUla and Khaybar

• Saudi and international teams advance long-term research into north-west Arabia's human history, from prehistoric landscapes and ancient kingdoms to oasis life, pilgrimage routes and heritage conservation
• The season builds on previous discoveries while strengthening Saudi capability in archaeology, field research, digital documentation and heritage interpretation

ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Commission for AlUla has launched the latest phase of its 2026–2027 Archaeology Season, bringing together Saudi and international teams to advance long-term archaeological research across AlUla and Khaybar.

Building on the momentum of previous seasons, this year's programme continues RCU's work to study, document, conserve and interpret one of north-west Arabia's most significant archaeological landscapes. The season brings together a broad programme of fieldwork, specialist research, digital documentation and community engagement across AlUla and Khaybar, supporting deeper understanding of the region's human history and its role within the ancient world.

The programme reflects the growing maturity of RCU's archaeology work. As missions return to the field, researchers are moving from individual discoveries into deeper scientific analysis, connecting evidence across periods, sites and disciplines to build a richer understanding of how people lived in, moved through and shaped the landscapes of AlUla and Khaybar over millennia.

This season's work is structured around key research themes, including early human presence and prehistory; ancient kingdoms and oasis societies; routes and pilgrimage; environmental history and water management; inscriptions and written heritage; material culture and subsistence; conservation; and digital documentation.

At Hegra, teams are continuing survey, excavation and specialist studies of the settlement centre and ancient oasis, including material linked to flora, fauna and small finds. This work aims to deepen understanding of life at the site across multiple periods and to support the wider interpretation of Hegra's archaeological landscape.

In Dadan, the second phase of the Dadan Archaeological Project is building on the results of the previous five-year mission. Current work is focused on further excavation and study of funerary and residential areas, helping researchers better understand the development, use and reuse of one of AlUla's most important ancient centres.

In Khaybar, continuing and new research is examining the oasis across different periods. This includes excavation of the major Neolithic site of Al-Maṭḥana, alongside studies of sedimentary archives, palaeoenvironments and human societies from late prehistory through the Islamic period. Together, these missions are helping researchers understand the relationship between natural resources, human presence and cultural change in one of the region's most important oasis landscapes.

The Pilgrimage Routes in South AlUla project is continuing work on forts and railway stations, while surveying more than 100 km between AlBadai' and Zumurrud forts to trace north-south routes of travel in Islamic and earlier periods. This research is helping to clarify how people, goods and ideas moved across the region through networks of travel, trade and pilgrimage.

The AlUla Inscriptions Corpus Analysis Project, in collaboration with Ghent University, is continuing work to translate, study and contextualise inscriptions recorded across AlUla. The project supports access to one of the region's most important bodies of written heritage, building on AlUla's record of more than 25,000 inscriptions and contributing to future research through the development of an online database.

Specialist studies are also expanding understanding of daily life and environmental history. Research into animal remains, ceramics, qanat water systems and material from Tell Saq is helping archaeologists move from field discovery into deeper analysis of diet, production, exchange, ritual practice, oasis water management and material culture.

The season also reflects RCU's commitment to developing Saudi capability in archaeology and heritage research. Through fieldwork, laboratory work, specialist studies, digital documentation, community engagement and collaboration with leading international institutions, the programme supports knowledge transfer and helps develop the next generation of Saudi archaeologists, researchers and heritage professionals.

A community engagement workshop will also introduce participants, including teachers, students, Rawis and rangers, to AlUla's heritage through practical activities, museum and laboratory experiences, and site visits, helping connect archaeological research with local knowledge and public engagement.

Dr Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, Vice President of Culture at RCU, said:
"AlUla and Khaybar continue to reveal the depth and diversity of north-west Arabia's human history. Through sustained archaeological research, RCU is advancing knowledge of the region's ancient landscapes, routes, oases and kingdoms, while strengthening Saudi Arabia's contribution to global archaeological understanding. This season is also an important opportunity to build national capability, support Saudi talent, and ensure that the knowledge generated through research informs how AlUla's heritage is conserved, interpreted and shared with the world."

Dr Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research at RCU, said:
"The value of this season lies in continuity. Returning to the field allows teams to test new evidence, refine chronologies and connect discoveries from individual sites to wider questions about movement, climate, exchange, food production, belief and long-term cultural change. Across AlUla and Khaybar, archaeology is revealing north-west Arabia as an active and connected landscape, shaped over millennia by movement, exchange, environmental change and human innovation."

The research programme also supports how AlUla's heritage is interpreted and shared with the public. Findings from archaeological missions inform exhibitions, site interpretation, Rawi storytelling, cultural programming and public-facing heritage experiences, helping visitors engage with AlUla's heritage through evidence-based narratives.

RCU's long-term archaeology programme forms part of its wider commitment to preserving AlUla's cultural heritage, investing in knowledge, strengthening national capabilities and positioning north-west Arabia as a major centre for archaeological research, cultural exchange and heritage-led development.

ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Commission for AlUla has launched the latest phase of its 2026–2027 Archaeology Season, bringing together Saudi and international teams to advance long-term archaeological research across AlUla and Khaybar.

Building on the momentum of previous seasons, this year's programme continues RCU's work to study, document, conserve and interpret one of north-west Arabia's most significant archaeological landscapes. The season brings together a broad programme of fieldwork, specialist research, digital documentation and community engagement across AlUla and Khaybar, supporting deeper understanding of the region's human history and its role within the ancient world.

The programme reflects the growing maturity of RCU's archaeology work. As missions return to the field, researchers are moving from individual discoveries into deeper scientific analysis, connecting evidence across periods, sites and disciplines to build a richer understanding of how people lived in, moved through and shaped the landscapes of AlUla and Khaybar over millennia.

This season's work is structured around key research themes, including early human presence and prehistory; ancient kingdoms and oasis societies; routes and pilgrimage; environmental history and water management; inscriptions and written heritage; material culture and subsistence; conservation; and digital documentation.

At Hegra, teams are continuing survey, excavation and specialist studies of the settlement centre and ancient oasis, including material linked to flora, fauna and small finds. This work aims to deepen understanding of life at the site across multiple periods and to support the wider interpretation of Hegra's archaeological landscape.

In Dadan, the second phase of the Dadan Archaeological Project is building on the results of the previous five-year mission. Current work is focused on further excavation and study of funerary and residential areas, helping researchers better understand the development, use and reuse of one of AlUla's most important ancient centres.

In Khaybar, continuing and new research is examining the oasis across different periods. This includes excavation of the major Neolithic site of Al-Maṭḥana, alongside studies of sedimentary archives, palaeoenvironments and human societies from late prehistory through the Islamic period. Together, these missions are helping researchers understand the relationship between natural resources, human presence and cultural change in one of the region's most important oasis landscapes.

The Pilgrimage Routes in South AlUla project is continuing work on forts and railway stations, while surveying more than 100 km between AlBadai' and Zumurrud forts to trace north-south routes of travel in Islamic and earlier periods. This research is helping to clarify how people, goods and ideas moved across the region through networks of travel, trade and pilgrimage.

The AlUla Inscriptions Corpus Analysis Project, in collaboration with Ghent University, is continuing work to translate, study and contextualise inscriptions recorded across AlUla. The project supports access to one of the region's most important bodies of written heritage, building on AlUla's record of more than 25,000 inscriptions and contributing to future research through the development of an online database.

Specialist studies are also expanding understanding of daily life and environmental history. Research into animal remains, ceramics, qanat water systems and material from Tell Saq is helping archaeologists move from field discovery into deeper analysis of diet, production, exchange, ritual practice, oasis water management and material culture.

The season also reflects RCU's commitment to developing Saudi capability in archaeology and heritage research. Through fieldwork, laboratory work, specialist studies, digital documentation, community engagement and collaboration with leading international institutions, the programme supports knowledge transfer and helps develop the next generation of Saudi archaeologists, researchers and heritage professionals.

A community engagement workshop will also introduce participants, including teachers, students, Rawis and rangers, to AlUla's heritage through practical activities, museum and laboratory experiences, and site visits, helping connect archaeological research with local knowledge and public engagement.

Dr Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, Vice President of Culture at RCU, said:
"AlUla and Khaybar continue to reveal the depth and diversity of north-west Arabia's human history. Through sustained archaeological research, RCU is advancing knowledge of the region's ancient landscapes, routes, oases and kingdoms, while strengthening Saudi Arabia's contribution to global archaeological understanding. This season is also an important opportunity to build national capability, support Saudi talent, and ensure that the knowledge generated through research informs how AlUla's heritage is conserved, interpreted and shared with the world."

Dr Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research at RCU, said:
"The value of this season lies in continuity. Returning to the field allows teams to test new evidence, refine chronologies and connect discoveries from individual sites to wider questions about movement, climate, exchange, food production, belief and long-term cultural change. Across AlUla and Khaybar, archaeology is revealing north-west Arabia as an active and connected landscape, shaped over millennia by movement, exchange, environmental change and human innovation."

The research programme also supports how AlUla's heritage is interpreted and shared with the public. Findings from archaeological missions inform exhibitions, site interpretation, Rawi storytelling, cultural programming and public-facing heritage experiences, helping visitors engage with AlUla's heritage through evidence-based narratives.

RCU's long-term archaeology programme forms part of its wider commitment to preserving AlUla's cultural heritage, investing in knowledge, strengthening national capabilities and positioning north-west Arabia as a major centre for archaeological research, cultural exchange and heritage-led development.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

RCU launches 2026-2027 Archaeology Season across AlUla and Khaybar

RCU launches 2026-2027 Archaeology Season across AlUla and Khaybar

RCU launches 2026-2027 Archaeology Season across AlUla and Khaybar

Recent coverage in ELLE Italia and Fashion Law Journal explores the Chinese womenswear brand's approach to clothing, from its signature Asymmetric Pants to the relationship between fabric, body and everyday life.

SHANGHAI, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- INSIS, the Chinese womenswear brand founded in 2015, brings together tactile materials, considered construction and subtle Chinese influences through its approach to Natural Ease. Recent features in ELLE Italia and Fashion Law Journal, alongside ELLE Italia's coverage of the brand's participation in Venice's The Third Shore, introduce international readers to the ideas and product decisions behind this approach.

For INSIS, Natural Ease begins with the experience of wearing a garment: how a fabric feels against the skin, how a cut accommodates movement, and how a piece fits into different parts of the day. These considerations connect the brand's merino wool knitwear, alpaca-blend outerwear and signature Asymmetric Pants, giving its collections a consistent emphasis on comfort, proportion and individual ways of dressing.

Natural Ease, from fabric to fit

With a core team from the textile industry and a product research and development headquarters established in Shanghai in 2019, INSIS treats material selection as an early design decision. The weight, texture and behaviour of a fabric help determine the garment's shape and construction.

Its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection includes 17.5-micron superfine Australian merino wool knitwear, yak-fibre-and-wool knits, and outerwear combining Suri alpaca with wool. Fine merino wool brings softness to pieces worn close to the skin. Yak fibre contributes warmth, while Suri alpaca adds lustre and fluidity to outerwear. The choice of yarn, blend and construction allows these qualities to take different forms.

Natural Ease also depends on the less visible work of pattern-making. Softened shoulder lines, eased armholes and seamless knitwear address how clothing rests against the body and moves with it. Selected reversible and adjustable pieces offer additional ways to wear a garment as routines and preferences change.

In its interview with INSIS, "Why 'Rooting' in Time Is Fashion's Most Radical Choice," Fashion Law Journal examines how the brand translates its ideas into decisions about materials, development, pricing and fit. The conversation gives practical context to Natural Ease, connecting the feel of a finished garment with the work involved in making it.

Asymmetric Pants and a subtle Chinese influence

The INSIS Asymmetric Pants are a signature expression of this approach. Their off-centre fronts and balanced proportions give everyday trousers a distinctive silhouette, with related designs developed in different fabrics and lengths.

Within this design language, the curved detail of the angled fly front draws inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture. That reference becomes a line in the pattern and a change in the proportions of the garment. Its origin can be understood through the construction, while the trousers remain easy to combine with a contemporary wardrobe.

The INSIS Asymmetric Wide-leg Pants feature an asymmetric wrap front, front pleats and curved side seams in brushed twill. The wider range also includes cotton-linen and wool-blend trousers, adapting the brand's interest in asymmetry to different textures and wearing needs.

This is how INSIS approaches subtle Chinese design: architectural references and an attention to material enter the structure of the clothing. A curve, a fold or an altered proportion can carry cultural meaning through a detail that feels familiar in everyday wear.

Time, Nature and Body

ELLE Italia's feature on INSIS explores the brand through Time, Nature and Body, connecting its approach to materials and construction with the everyday experience of wearing clothes. These ideas give context to Natural Ease: the feel of a fabric, the freedom to move, and the place a garment can hold in a wardrobe over time.

INSIS develops selected styles across seasons, revisiting fabrics, construction and fit. This continuity allows familiar pieces to evolve and gives wearers the opportunity to return to shapes that work for them. Natural Ease extends into this longer relationship with clothing: finding pieces that can accompany changing circumstances without demanding a new wardrobe for each one.

The brand's cultural participation brings these interests into a wider conversation. In September 2026, INSIS took part as a co-creator of The Third Shore's founding event in Venice, where cinema, science, art and craftsmanship came together. ELLE Italia's report on The Third Shore provides the context for that gathering and its exchanges across disciplines.

For INSIS, questions about materials, making and cultural knowledge have a direct connection to clothing. They inform both its product development and its expression, "Clothing, for being, for becoming"—an invitation for wearers to find their own relationship with what they wear.

About INSIS

Founded in China in 2015, INSIS is a womenswear brand with a background in textiles and a product research and development headquarters established in Shanghai in 2019. Its collections bring together Natural Ease, an emphasis on materials and subtle Chinese influences across trousers, knitwear, outerwear and everyday wardrobe pieces.

Explore INSIS clothing and its collections at insis.shop.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

INSIS Brings Natural Ease into Focus Through Materials and Subtle Chinese Design