November 2, 2024: Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000-year-old fortified town hidden within an oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia revealing fascinating clues about the slow shift from nomadic to urban living in ancient times.
The town, named al-Natah, was concealed within the walled oasis of Khaybar, a green refuge surrounded by desert landscapes. This historic site, dating back to the early Bronze Age, features a vast 14.5-kilometer wall encircling the area. Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, researchers revealed that the ancient ramparts served to protect the town’s habitat, which could accommodate up to 500 residents.
The town’s map shows around 50 houses perched on a hill, each with sturdy foundations suitable for one or two stories. These findings, published in the journal PLOS One, suggest al-Natah thrived around 2,400 BC but was mysteriously abandoned a thousand years later.
Discovering Urban Roots in the Desert
Unlike the flourishing urban centers of ancient Syria and Jordan along the Mediterranean, northwest Arabia was once thought to be an empty desert with only nomadic tribes and burial sites. However, discoveries in Khaybar and nearby Tayma have sparked new interest, showing that these oases were much more than barren landscapes.
The ancient black basalt rocks covering al-Natah’s walls protected it from illegal excavations, preserving its secrets until now. From aerial views, researchers identified paths and house foundations, leading to the discovery of solidly built homes and a community structure.
Within the town’s necropolis, archaeologists found metal weapons and agate stones, suggesting a relatively sophisticated society. Simple yet elegant pottery pieces also indicate a community with egalitarian principles, despite their modest lifestyle.
A Unique Path to Urbanization
Unlike the large city-states of Mesopotamia or Egypt, al-Natah represents a different, slower road to urban development in Arabia. Researchers believe these fortified towns likely had contact with each other, hinting at trade routes that could later evolve into the “incense route” a vital path that linked southern Arabia to the Mediterranean, transporting spices and valuable incense.
The discoveries at al-Natah paint a remarkable picture of “slow urbanism,” showing how ancient communities gradually adapted to settled village life while still interacting with nomadic groups. According to Charloux, these findings highlight “another path towards urbanization… quite specific to northwest Arabia.”
As excavations continue, researchers hope to learn more about the lifestyles, structures, and social dynamics of al-Natah’s people offering an unprecedented glimpse into the ancient history of Saudi Arabia’s desert oases.
Read Now:Spain Deadliest Floods Claim Over 200 Lives Rescue Efforts Intensify Amid Rising Tensions
