13,500-year-old human settlement in Saudi Arabia linked to Nufian culture. Sa Sahut archaeological site located on southern edge of Nefood Desert between Anan and Al-Nisma Mountains Researchers report people occupied the site around 13,500 years ago during Epipaleolithic period Study published in Nature by Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission
Humans lived in Arabia's deserts 13,500 years ago! Sahout archaeological site reveals Epipaleolithic occupation linked to the Natufian culture previously known only from the Levant. Stone tools closely resemble eastern Mediterranean artifacts. The Nefud Desert held more prehistoric life than assumed. 🏜️
Key facts:
- Sahout archaeological site located on southern edge of Nefud Desert between Anan and Al-Nisma Mountains
- Researchers report people occupied the site around 13,500 years ago during Epipaleolithic period
- Discovery published by Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission, reported by Arab News and Saudi Gazette
- Discovery shows ancient communities lived in deserts of northern Arabia during late Ice Age
- Stone tools closely resemble artifacts from Natufian culture of eastern Mediterranean (15,000-11,500 years ago)
Key Facts
- Sa Sahut archaeological site located on southern edge of Nefood Desert between Anan and Al-Nisma Mountains
- Researchers report people occupied the site around 13,500 years ago during Epipaleolithic period
- Study published in Nature by Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission
- Discovery shows ancient communities lived in deserts of northern Arabia during late Ice Age
- Stone tools closely resemble artifacts from Nufian culture of eastern Mediterranean (15,000-11,500 years ago)
- Helwan bladelets found - small stone tools used as arrowheads or hunting weapon components
- Discovery challenges assumptions that northern Arabia's deserts had limited prehistoric human occupation
- Nufian culture previously known primarily from the Levant
Source: LIVE ~ PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS From Around the World by The Prehistory Guys