The Saudi Heritage Commission, one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, announced findings documenting archaeological evidence of early human settlement in northern Arabia. The scientific study presenting the evidence has been published in the journal Nature.
The findings, presented in the scientific study titled “The Natufian Epipalaeolithic and Pre-Pottery Neolithic in the desert of northern Arabia,” are based on advanced excavation and scientific analysis conducted at the Sahout site, an archaeological site located on the southern edge of the Nefud Desert between the Arnan and Al-Misma mountains.
The site occupies a strategic geographic position linking internal desert environments with settlement networks connected to the Levant, making it a key location for understanding early human movement and dispersal in the region during the late Ice Age and the beginning of the Holocene.
The study documented human settlement at the site dating back about 13,500 years. Stratified excavations uncovered distinctive stone tools, most notably Helwan bladelets - small, finely crafted stone implements used as arrowheads or as components of hunting tools.
These artifacts are important archaeological indicators associated with the Natufian culture. Their discovery at the Sahout site confirms the presence of human communities possessing advanced technical skills and the ability to adapt to desert environments. It also reflects the connection of the Arabian Peninsula to broader cultural networks extending to the Fertile Crescent during this early period.
The discovery also revealed a later settlement phase dating between approximately 10,300 and 8,700 years ago, characterized by greater settlement density and technological development in stone industries. Archaeologists discovered Abu Salem points, a type of finely crafted arrowhead used in hunting.
These findings provide important evidence of advanced human societies with sophisticated technological skills, reflecting a high level of organization and environmental knowledge during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period and confirming the presence of developed human settlement in northern Arabia during that time.
Geochemical analyses of the obsidian used to manufacture the stone tools showed that the material originated from Jabal Al-Abyad in the Khaybar region, about 190 km south of the site. This indicates the existence of extensive communication and exchange networks, demonstrating that early communities were capable of traveling long distances to obtain resources from distant areas and highlighting advanced levels of cultural and technological interaction among populations in the region.
The study documented a direct link between human settlement and rock art at the site. Carving tools were found within dated archaeological layers alongside artistic elements depicting life-size camels and human figures.
These discoveries provide a precise chronological framework for the development of artistic expression in northern Arabia, confirming that artistic production was an integral part of the cultural life of the communities inhabiting the area during these early periods.
The findings reaffirm the Kingdom’s commitment to cultural preservation, historical understanding, and knowledge development.
