An analytical archaeological study of a memorial inscription preserved in the War Museum in Sana'a, Yemen (published for the first time)

This study presents an archaeological and analytical investigation of a commemorative inscription preserved at the Military Museum in Ṣanʿāʾ, Yemen. Originally, this inscription was located above the entrance of a tomb in the city of Ṣaʿdah, northern Yemen, and it documents the famous Treaty of Da’an in 1329 H/1911 CE, which was concluded between the Ottoman Empire and the Zaydi Imams of Yemen. The study sheds light on the complex relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Zaydi Imams both before and after the Treaty of Da’an. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to understanding the political and cultural dynamics in Yemen during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries CE. The study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the importance of this commemorative inscription, exploring how the text reflects Ottoman-Zaydi relations following the Da'an agreement.
The key research questions addressed by the study include: What is the historical and cultural context of the inscription? How does the inscription contribute to the understanding of Ottoman-Zaydi relations? And what role do commemorative inscriptions play in documenting political treaties and religious agreements in Yemen? The research methodology is based on both the historical-archaeological approach and the descriptive-analytical method in describing the inscription and conducting historical analysis by comparing the inscription’s text with historical documents and treaties from the period. This approach provides a deeper understanding of the symbolic meaning and political significance of the inscription. By addressing these research questions using various methodological approaches, the study contributes to the field of Islamic archaeology, offering new insights into Yemen’s political history and the role of inscriptions in documenting significant historical events.