Wednesday, July 10, 2024
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A pioneering archaeological study in Al-Ula Governorate, located in northwestern Saudi Arabia, has revealed the first detailed description and analysis of a type of ancient Neolithic dwelling.
The research, led by University of Sydney archaeologist Jane McMahon, reveals that the region’s inhabitants during the 6th and 5th millennia BC were more settled than previously thought. The study also uncovers a variety of cultural artefacts that suggest these ancient communities herded livestock, made jewellery and engaged in trade across a cultural network that stretched across the Levant, Transjordan and the Red Sea.
The report, published July 2 in the peer-reviewed journal Levant , focuses on unique structures known as standing stone circles. These dwellings, which feature a double row of standing stone slabs arranged in circles ranging in diameter from four to eight meters (13 to 26 feet), are thought to have served as foundations for wooden posts, likely made of acacia wood. These posts would have supported the roof of the dwelling, with an additional central slab supporting a main wooden post. Tools and animal remains found at the site suggest that the roofs may have been made of animal hides.
The research team examined 431 standing stone circles in Harrat ‘Uwayrid, a basalt-covered volcanic plateau in AlUla Governorate. The team conducted detailed surveys of 52 of these structures and excavated 11 of them. The study provides new insights into the complexity and evolution of Neolithic life in the region, emphasizing the importance of ongoing exploration and analysis.
Gene McMahon “This research tests assumptions about how the early inhabitants of northwestern Arabia lived,” he said. “They were not just nomadic pastoralists struggling to make a living. They had distinctive architecture and houses, large quantities of domestic animals, jewellery and tools with an unexpected and exceptional level of diversity. Based on the number and size of the standing stone circles, it also appears that they were much more numerous than previously thought.”
Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research at the Royal Commission for AlUla“The Royal Commission for AlUla’s sponsorship of one of the world’s largest archaeological research programmes is deepening our understanding of the Neolithic peoples of the region,” he said. “Our previous studies have shown how they hunted and gathered to perform rituals, and now we have a new insight into the fabric of their daily lives. With 12 ongoing surveys, excavations and specialist projects and nine completed, the Royal Commission for AlUla looks forward to learning more about the rich cultural landscape of northwestern Arabia as we work to create a world-class hub for archaeological research and preservation.”
The team’s analysis of animal remains in the standing stone circles reveals a mixed, subsistence economy. It relied primarily on domestic species such as goats and sheep, as well as wild species such as gazelles and birds. This pastoral economy would have provided the population with flexibility and the ability to adapt to environmental and resource changes, including changes in weather, water availability, and vegetation.
The arrowheads examined by the team resemble those found in southern and eastern Jordan, suggesting interaction between populations in these areas, although the exact nature of this interaction remains unclear.
Smaller artifacts suggest a connected area during this period. The team found gastropod and bivalve shells, often pierced with a single hole, and likely used as beads. The species of these shells matches those found in the Red Sea, 120 kilometers to the west, suggesting coastal connectivity during the Neolithic.
Additional finds include pieces of jewelry such as rings or bracelets made of sandstone and limestone, pendants, and a red sandstone crayon, possibly used for drawing.
“The connected but separate nature of the Neolithic period in AlUla is becoming clear,” the researchers say.
The team’s analysis of animal remains in the standing stone circles reveals a mixed subsistence economy.
