Vast, 4,000-Year-Old Oasis Fortification Discovered in North Arabia

 Oasis

Researchers have found a 4,000-year-old fortress that defended an oasis in the ancient Khyber Oasis, in the northern Arabian desert. It is officially one of the longest known structures - 14.5 km (9 mi), dating to the 4th and 3rd millennium BC. What remains of the fort has been dated to between 2250 and 1950 BC, when the area was inhabited by sedentary people and oases were common. New Study Reveals Ancient Arabian Peninsula Funerary Avenues Network Footprints reveal the passage of early humans from Africa through Arabia.

Human Habitation in Northwest Arabia and Nomad Pastoralist Groups

Archaeologists from the CNRS and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) have stated that this discovery, alongside the Tayma Oasis, marks one of the two largest walled oases in Saudi Arabia. They have published these findings in a new study in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, which has shed new light into human habitation in north-western Arabia during the pre-Islamic era. Utilizing a combination of field surveys, remote sensing data, and architectural studies, the research team approximated the original dimensions of the fortifications, revealing a structure stretching 14.5 kilometers (9 mi) in length, 1.70 to 2.40 meters (5.5-8.7 ft) in thickness, and standing at approximately 5 meters (16.5 ft) in height.

Study of Masonry of Walls. A. Variation of thickness range of each rampart group; B. View of the currently preserved masonry of the outer wall wall (rampart KH01130) on the north side; C. Example of architectural study carried out on sections of external wall showing alteration of internal masonry. (© Khaybar LDAP, G. Charloux. T. Terrasse / Journal of Archaeological Science

More than 41% of its original length, or 5.9 km [3.66 mi], and with 74 bastions still preserved in some form or another, the massive complex encompasses a sitting area of ​​about 1,100 hectares (718.15 acres). . According to a press release from the Center for Scientific Research, France (CNRS), the study confirms that the Khyber Oasis is part of a network of walled oases in the region.

Aerial views of outer wall dry stone basement: A. Segment KH00911 south side. B. Segment KH01130 northward. C. Sections KH00904-KH00905 and KH00906 southward. D. Segment KH00922, (© Khaybar LDAP, G. Charloux/© Khaybar LDAP, M. Bussy & G. Charloux/ Journal of Archaeological Science) Researchers believe that these were nomadic priests who settled here:

1. In keeping with the principles of plot demarcation for agriculture and grazing, groups of mobile pastoralists would settle in a strategic area in the Khyber Oasis with a good water supply, apparently delimiting their habitat and cultural space. While this local development may have appeared to defend agricultural and water resources areas from the outside…the outer wall certainly indicates a social and territorial marker,” he writes.
2. Bahlah Fort: Oman's incredible desert oasis The new site is found in an "archaeological oasis" in Egypt's Eastern Desert.

What’s in an Oasis? Flourishing Amidst the Aridity

An oasis, a small but fertile expanse of greenery in the midst of the desert, thrives with life thanks to freshwater sources like subterranean rivers and elevated water tables. They generally occur in deserts or semi-arid regions, and can transform into flourishing sanctuaries, providing a vibrant habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

Within desert regions, oases have played and continue to play an important role as essential shelters and central hubs for human settlement, agriculture and trade. Acting as reliable sources of water in an arid and challenging environment, these oases naturally became the center of flourishing communities. The implementation of human-engineered aquifers and channels has historically played an important role in the irrigation of these regions, promoting favorable conditions for sustainable human settlements.

Several pre-Bronze Age (3300-1200 BC) walled oases have been traced in northwest Arabia. During this period, fortified settlements, like monumental European "megaforts", emerged.

The barren expanses of the Arabian desert host some of the world's oldest forts, such as the Citadel of Aleppo in Syria, which is the world's largest recognizable stone citadel with a history of habitation. spans over 4,500 years. Just last year, the world's oldest fortress was discovered, revealing a Stone Age Siberian structure dating back 8,000 years, Cosmos magazine reported.

Cosmos Magazine. Through this project, researchers have uncovered evidence that suggests the earliest occupations of the oasis date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. Discoveries include various funerary structures, desert kites (dry stone wall constructions typical of the region), as well as numerous inscriptions and rock art representing diverse periods and traditions.

• These findings illuminate a rich and extensive history of civilizations in Arabia that is largely unexplored. The role and significance of oasis forts in the wider context of the Bronze Age remains unclear..
• Image above: A reconstructed view of the northern part of the Khyber oasis fortifications around 2000 BC.