BOUNTIFUL AND NAHOM

According to the 1^st Nephi, Lehi and his party travelled almost due East from the place called Nahom (where Ishmael was buried) until they reached a green and fertile area on the sea shore which they called Bountiful.

There is today a place on the Arabian peninsular called Nahom or Nehem and it does contain an ancient burial ground. Alters and mummies dating from 600 BC have been discovered in Nahom.

Here is a map of Lehi’s probable route.

3 altars dated to about 600 BC inscribed with the letters NHM (Nehem or Nahom ) have been discovered at modern day Nahom

The burial ground at Nahom contains mummies dating to 600 BC. This mummy is wrapped in a leather bag

If you travel due east from Nahom today, you come to a place on the coast that is called Kohr Kafoot. Only this small area of the coast is green and lush because it is often covered in mist from the sea due to a combination of very unusual geographic features. The rest of the surrounding area and the coastline on either side is totally barren and blistering hot.

This is what the area surrounding Kohr Kahfoot (in modern day Yemen) looks like

Now contrast that with these pictures of Khor Kahfoot

Khor Khafoot has some other interesting features as well

1. Khor Kharfot is situated less than one degree from due east of Nehem (Nahom).

2. A large mountain overlooks the west end of the beach. Nephi went into a mountain to “pray oft” while building the boat

3. A number of sizable trees exist in the area, with evidence of ancient forests. These trees could have provided sufficient lumber to build a ship

4. Iron in the form of specular hematite is available in the Marbat plain, within a few days' hike to the east of Khor Kharfot. Nephi needed to smelt iron to make tools

5. Cliffs rise above the ocean in this area. Nephi;s brothers tried to kill him by throwing him into the sea. Throwing him into the sea from a beach would probably not have been very effective, so the presence of a cliff here makes sense..

6. There is evidence of inhabitation and use as a small seaport during the Islamic period

7. Drinking Water was available through freshwater springs and an ancient river.

8. A form of flint is available on the surface in large quantities.

9. Ancient ruins show that Khor Kharfot was occupied intermittently.

10. The coast is well suited to sailing, with seasonal winds in the fall blowing east.

11. The valley of Wadi Sayq leads to the ocean from the desert interior, and is the only wadi that flows from the high desert eastward toward the coast. The coast is accessible by traveling through the bottom of Wadi Sayq.

12. Khor Kharfot is the most fertile site on the southern Arabian coast. The region of fertility extends two miles into the Wadi Sayq.

For further information see http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/020925yemen.html