Ancient Rock Art Discovered in Saudi Arabia Reveals Prehistoric Life in Al Nafud Desert

In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have uncovered over 170 life-sized rock engravings in Saudi Arabia's Al Nafud desert, dating back between 12,800 and 11,400 years. These monumental artworks, depicting animals such as camels, ibexes, and the now-extinct aurochs, challenge previous assumptions about early human habitation and artistic expression in the Arabian Peninsula.

The engravings, some measuring up to three meters in length, were found at sites including Jebel Arnaan, Jebel Mleiha, and Jebel Misma along the southern edge of the Nefud Desert. Created during a humid climatic phase, these artworks likely served as markers for water sources and migration routes, indicating a sophisticated understanding of the environment and social organization among prehistoric communities. Artifacts found nearby suggest connections between early Arabian peoples and distant Neolithic communities.

The discovery was made under the "Green Arabia Project," a collaborative initiative involving Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission and an international team of researchers from various universities and research centers. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

The engravings were created during a humid climatic phase between 13,000 and 16,000 years ago, a period that allowed human populations to thrive in regions that are now arid. The discovery sheds light on the development of rock art, prehistoric lifestyles, and the cultural and economic links connecting the northern Arabian Peninsula with neighboring regions.

The engravings likely served as markers for water sources and migration routes, indicating a sophisticated understanding of the environment and social organization among prehistoric communities. Artifacts found nearby, including stone tools and beads, suggest connections between early Arabian peoples and distant Neolithic communities.

"These ancient communities survived in the desert by moving between seasonal lakes, and they marked these water sources, and the paths leading to them, with monumental rock art," said Maria Guagnin, archaeologist and lead author of the study.

The discovery represents the earliest scientifically dated phase of rock art in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the Arabian Peninsula's role as an early center of artistic creativity. It challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of human habitation in the region, indicating that people lived there around 2,000 years earlier than previously believed.

This milestone marks another chapter in Saudi Arabia's expanding efforts to document, preserve, and promote its rich archaeological and cultural heritage, positioning the Kingdom as a key region in the global study of early human history.