4,000-year-old village discovered in Saudi Arabia by remote sensing

A team of archaeologists discovered an ancient village in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in the Khaybar Oasis, which is surrounded by a vast desert. It was called “Al-Nata’a,” and its age was estimated to be about 4,000 years.

In a study published in the journal "PLOS ONE" - supervised by Saudi and French researchers - the study reveals surprises about the lives of Arabs in ancient times, and sheds light on the urban transformations that the region was undergoing during the Early Bronze Age.

How does science help in archaeological excavation?

The challenges faced by archaeologists in studying the village site are great, and are comparable in difficulty to the basalt fortifications surrounding the site. The town was covered with black volcanic rocks that gave it natural protection from the elements and repelled antiquities thieves. The research team was only able to discover the paths and foundations of the village using remote scanning technology.

This technology is crucial in uncovering many archaeological sites, as researchers have relied on high-resolution aerial photography to detect features hidden under piles of black basalt rocks that are difficult to detect from the ground.

Using drones and photography with a resolution of up to 1.5 centimeters per pixel, the team was able to create a detailed map of the site that helped them pinpoint the excavation sites with great accuracy.

@RCU_SA announces an archaeological discovery in the #Khaybar Oasis that changes old concepts about pastoralism in the Bronze Age, as this discovery is the first of its kind in the region through the village of #AlNata , which highlights the social and economic life during that era. pic.twitter.com/P7uVI6SPnX

— Royal Commission for AlUla (@RCU_SA) November 2, 2024

This aerial perspective, coupled with careful fieldwork, enabled the research team to pinpoint the excavation sites well, and as excavations began, they discovered that the stone foundations were strong enough to support multi-story buildings, indicating a society that had mastered advanced architectural techniques suited to settled, permanent life.

Initial excavations have revealed metal weapons, such as axes and daggers, ornamental agate stones, and simple, elegant pottery, reflecting a society that had sophisticated means of defense and a penchant for art and decoration.

In addition to this survey, 8 field studies provided valuable information on the type and sequence of site development (dwellings, streets, and walls).

The ongoing work at the archaeological village is part of the long-term Khaybar Archaeological Project, which was launched in 2020. Researchers have documented some 20,000 archaeological monuments in the oasis area, using the latest remote sensing technologies and organized fieldwork methodologies despite the difficult environment due to the nature of the hard basalt stones, which hinders easy drawing of architectural plans.

Stability among the volcanic mountain slopes

The village of Natah is believed to have been home to around 500 people around 2400 BC, and is strategically located within the fertile Khaybar Oasis.

Contrary to the prevailing belief about the condition of the Arabs in ancient times in the Arabian Peninsula, this discovery and other discoveries during the last 15 years present a different vision of the typical life of the Arab Bedouins, which included a lot of migration and movement.

Researchers confirm that the period in which the village was founded coincided with the period of prosperity of construction and urban life in the Mediterranean Basin regions at the beginning of the Bronze Age.

The area of the ancient village of Natah is about 26 thousand square meters, and includes about 50 houses built on a high hill among the fertile lands of the Khaybar Oasis, which is surrounded by volcanic mountains. A huge wall 14.5 kilometers long passes by the village, and researchers believe that the city was abandoned after about a thousand years, but the reason behind this displacement remains unknown.

These major research efforts are attributed to the previous archaeological discovery in the neighboring Tayma Oasis, which encouraged archaeologists to intensify searches to explore similar oases and archaeological sites.

Researchers believe that the village, like the surrounding oases, was a vital point on the ancient trade routes linking the Levant and Yemen.

Source: Websites