Published:
Apr 19, 2024 07:16 GMT
Paintings and animal remains allow archaeologists to assume that a tubular lava cave in Arabia was an important resource for the survival of pastoralists in a challenging environment.
The first evidence that a tubular lava cave in Saudi Arabia served as a refuge for ancient people for 7,000 years has been discovered by an international team of scientists led by Griffith University in Australia.
The cave in question is that of Umm Jirsan; It is located in the north of the country, and the material found inside covers the period from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic/Bronze Age (between 10,000 and 3,500 years ago), according to a release of the University.
The rock art and organic remains found in the cave, as well as faunal records, confirmed the use of that natural refuge and surrounding areas by shepherds in ancient times.
“Our findings at Umm Jirsan provide a rare insight into the lives of ancient people in Arabia, revealing repeated phases of human occupation and shedding light on the pastoral activities that once thrived in this territory,” said study leader Dr. Mathew Stewart.
How they used the cave
The rock paintings on the walls of the cave depict domesticated sheep and goats, and the bones of the animals themselves have also been preserved, so scientists assume that ancient cattle ranchers lived in the cave.
According to experts, Umm Jirsan was not a permanent place of residence, but rather a temporary refuge for shepherds who wandered between oases, suggests the study published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Isotopic analysis of animal remains indicates that cattle grazed primarily on wild grasses and shrubs, while humans maintained a high-protein diet, with a notable increase in plant consumption over time, suggesting the emergence of oasis agriculture.
However, the study does not rule out that the cave was also related to hunting activities, which probably remained a cornerstone of local economies until the Bronze Age.
Lava tubes like Umm Jirsan offer rich material on the methods ancient Arabian humans turned to to increase their resilience in a challenging environment, the authors conclude.
