Researchers uncover 12,000-year-old animal petroglyphs in Saudi Arabia
The petroglyphs offer insight into survival and culture in the ancient Arabian desert
An international team of researchers has uncovered a series of massive rock carvings in northern Saudi Arabia dating back around 12,000 years.
The carvings depict life-size animals such as camels, ibex, wild donkeys, deer, and wild bulls. Some images reach three metres in length and two metres in height, meticulously carved with primitive stone tools, demonstrating advanced artistic skill and coordinated group effort, according to Al-Arabiya.
Researchers believe the carvings were not merely decorative but served as visual maps marking seasonal water sources essential for human and animal survival. In an era of extreme drought, these signs guided nomadic tribes to critical water supplies, ensuring their survival in the desert.
Luminescence dating of the underlying sediments confirmed the carvings are around 12,000 years old. Stone tools, arrowheads, beads, and even a shell bead were found nearby, suggesting cultural and trade connections with neighbouring Levantine communities.
Photo: kurmyshov / iStock
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