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The research focused on Umm Jirsan, a site rich with archaeological deposits dating from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic/Bronze Age periods, approximately 10,000 to 3,500 years ago. This site provides compelling evidence of repeated human use over millennia.
"Our findings at Umm Jirsan provide a rare glimpse into the lives of ancient peoples in Arabia, revealing repeated phases of human occupation and shedding light on the pastoralist activities that once thrived in this landscape," said Dr Mathew Stewart, the lead researcher and a Research Fellow at ARCHE.
"This site likely served as a crucial waypoint along pastoral routes, linking key oases and facilitating cultural exchange and trade."
Further discoveries include rock art and faunal records indicating the use of the lava tube and surrounding areas by pastoralists. These findings are supported by the depictions of cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs, which reflect the livestock practices of the time. Isotopic analysis of animal remains suggests that livestock grazed on wild grasses and shrubs, while human diets were rich in protein and increasingly included C3 plants, indicating the development of oasis agriculture.
"While underground localities are globally significant in archaeology and Quaternary science, our research represents the first comprehensive study of its kind in Saudi Arabia," added Professor Michael Petraglia, Director of ARCHE.
"These findings underscore the immense potential for interdisciplinary investigations in caves and lava tubes, offering a unique window into Arabia's ancient past."
Research Report:First evidence for human occupation of a lava tube in Arabia: The archaeology of Umm Jirsan Cave and its surroundings, northern Saudi Arabia
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