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Photo 1
In about 1962 the BP Aden Photographic Society organised a trip to the Beihan Protectorate to visit the site of the ancient city and Qatabanian capital of Timna. In the 1st millenium BC the city had been on the Frankincense route from Oman to Gaza and is reputed to have been one of the twin capitals of the Queen of Sheba. An American expedition had carried out archaeological excavations in 1950-52 and in 1955 its leader Wendell Phillips had published a book entitled Qataban and Sheba detailing the work of the expediton. The attached map gives the position of Beihan which is shown as Bayhan al Qisab and is approx. 150 miles from Aden.
There were about 25 in the party some of whom can be seen in photo1 preparing to board the plane. Some of the names from the right are: Pat Craven with Margaret Faultless just behind, Bob & Mrs Maisey, Sheila Pounder, Mrs Cockerill, Ron Laybourne with back to camera, Mrs Shute in pink, Stan Greaves standing sidewards and Charlie Kneebone with camera slung over his shoulder.
After a short flight over very rugged mountains we dropped down suddenly to get our first view of our destination - the Wadi Beihan see photo2. At the desert airstrip in photo 3 we were met by our guide and the armed escort in photo 4 that was to stay very close to us throughout our stay.
We were driven initially to the Emir's palace see photos 5 & 6 where we were given tea, shown some artefacts - photo 7 shows an alabaster face and each was presented with a Beihan chair. The chair was a strong band of tightly woven coloured cotton which when looped over your crossed knees and back gave surprisingly comfortable support. Photos 8, 9 and 10 show us inside the palace having tea and using our chairs. In photo 8 are Pat & Sid Craven with Gordon Faultless while in photo 10 Charlie Kneebone is prominent.
Outside the palace we boarded landrovers for the trip to the site of Timna. Photo 11 shows Sheila Pounder, Stan Greaves with back to camera and Les Shute on the left. In photo 12 Les Shute is sitting in the front with the guide, behind whom is Harry Cockerill with Mike Temple behind him.
I was disappointed with the Timna site. It had been about 10 years since the Wendell Phillips dig and the desert sand had again just about covered the site - there was little to be seen. Photo 13 shows the south gate of the city with one of our guards on watch while Photo 14 is an example of the script to seen on some of the stones - we were told that it was Himyaritic. Unexplained was the pillar in photo15 at the base of which were several bones. Was it ancient, what was its purpose and why the bones? We never found out.
For me the present day local Arabs were far more interesting than Timna. There was a nearby Bedouin encampment seen in photos 16 & 17. The Bedu's name was Ali. Photo 18 shows two heavily laden women heading straight out into the desert. Nearer to the village we saw other women raising water from a well. Mike Temple can be seen in photo19 and note that the fellow with the mule is pretending to shoot the camera man. Photo 20 is a closer view of the well.
The people in the village were no less interesting. The young boy in photo 21seemed over-excited by our presence and the girl in photo 22 appeared to have a shavened head. The men in photo 23 looked suspicious and moody, perhaps explaining the need for a constantly present armed guard. Photo 24 shows the older method of grinding corn - the camel is blind-folded and is driven round and round by the young boys. In contrast, photo 25 shows a more modern system ( ex-safety officers should not look at this one ).
Finally, photo 26 shows our return at Aden airport after a memorable day but I was disappointed to see such a small union jack on the airport building.
There's a map of the region after photo 26
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Photo 1