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– Date Palms and Palm Groves in Saudi Arabia, An Ethnobotanical Perspective
Vincent Battesti
Text written for a future institutional catalogue, for the next opening of al-Qassim Palms and Dates Museum. This book will be published by Hatje Cantz publishing house.
– Abstract:
In Saudi Arabia, no plant is more structurally and culturally significant than the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). It is a culturally keystone species of oasis agroecosystems. Cultivated since the Bronze Age, this iconic plant has long been a staple food for both pastoral and settled populations. Beyond sustenance, it has provided essential materials for architecture and everyday objects while shaping trade and exchange networks across Arabia.
Date palms are the foundation of oasis systems, thriving in the arid landscapes of the region. These groves, entirely shaped by human ingenuity, have allowed societies not just to survive but to flourish in harsh environments.