A Majestic Lava Tube in the Arabian Peninsula Astounds Archaeologists with Evidence of Human Life.
According to Live Science, this is the massive lava tube named Umm Jirsan, located in the volcanic region of Harat Khaybar, in what is now Saudi Arabia.
Although ancient humans are known to have inhabited the Arabian Peninsula for a long time in prehistory, the remaining archaeological evidence is scarce due to the region’s arid conditions, which do not preserve artifacts well.
However, a cave that is part of the lava tube is a different story.
The Umm Jirsan Lava Tube, formed by ancient volcanic activity – (Photo: PALAEODESERTS Project).
Reaching an impressive length of 1,481 meters, Umm Jirsan not only served as a safe haven for ancient humans but also preserved a valuable archaeological treasure.
Inside Umm Jirsan, a research team from Australia, the UK, Germany, the US, and Saudi Arabia discovered nine human skeletons, numerous pieces of fabric, wooden artifacts, and rock art depicting domesticated animals…
According to the authors, these are evidence of one of the settled communities in the area dating back at least 7,000 years, possibly even up to 10,000 years, belonging to some of the earliest civilizations on Earth, located on the Arabian Peninsula.
The artifacts depict a life of prehistoric farmers, with thriving agriculture and animal husbandry that continued into the Bronze Age.
However, humans did not inhabit these lava tubes for long periods.
In the later years of the lava tube’s use, it became a stopping point along the grazing route, where pastoralists could seek water and rest while herding their livestock.
Previously, the lava tube was also associated with hunting activities and may have been a piece of the local economy during the Bronze Age, as it served as an underground route for transporting volcanic rock.
This discovery also provides an intriguing affirmation for space scientists: The idea of creating underground habitats in lava tubes on the Moon, proposed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is entirely feasible.
