An Archaeological and Artistic Study of Four Tombstones from the Period of the Qāsimī State in Yemen

This study examines four tombstones associated with significant figures in Yemen's history during the period of the early Qāsimī State (1006-1054 H./1597-1644 A.D.); ʿAlī b. al-Imām al-Muʾayyad Muḥammad b. al-Qāsim (1013-1078 H./1603-1617 A.D.) and his brother al-Qāsim b. al-Imām al-Muʾayyad Muḥammad b. al-Qāsim (1024-1127 H./1632-1715 A.D.). The research sheds light on their life histories and historical roles. It documents and studies these stone artifacts from both archaeological and artistic perspectives, providing a detailed description and analyzing the inscriptions in terms of form and content. The inscriptions contain valuable historical information, religious and historical titles, and supplicatory phrases. The researcher employed a descriptive-analytical approach and an inductive method by describing the four artifacts, reading their written texts, analyzing their contents, and referencing various archaeological evidence sources and historical references. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving these artifacts due to their significant archaeological and cultural value amid the ongoing armed political conflict in Yemen.