Archaeologists have discovered a Bronze Age town named al-Natah in Saudi Arabia’s Khaybar oasis, marking a significant milestone in understanding the region’s transition from nomadic to settled lifestyles around 2400 BCE.
The ancient town, spread across 2.6 hectares and fortified by a stone rampart, housed around 500 residents who developed a structured urban environment.
The discovery challenges long-standing views that mobile pastoralism was the primary lifestyle of northwest Arabia in the Early to Middle Bronze Ages, revealing instead a thriving town with distinct residential and funerary zones.
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Residents of al-Natah lived in two-story dwellings with storage spaces on the ground floor, navigated narrow streets, and used stepped tower tombs for burials. They practiced agriculture, raising cereals and livestock, worked in metallurgy, and engaged in pottery production and trade.
These findings highlight al-Natah as an early hub of social and economic activity, where settled communities and mobile pastoralists intersected, reshaping the socio-economic landscape of the region.
Led by Dr. Guillaume Charloux of the Khaybar Longue Durée Archaeological Project in collaboration with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the discovery exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s growing role in archaeological research.
His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, emphasized the discovery’s importance, saying it underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage and supporting Saudi Vision 2030.
The research, published in PLOS One, indicates that al-Natah represents an early form of rural urbanism, predating previously held assumptions about the region’s development. According to Dr. Charloux, the findings “challenge the model of northwest Arabia in the Bronze Age,” suggesting that settled communities emerged earlier than once believed.
This discovery is part of a larger research initiative led by RCU, with support from the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (AFALULA). In the upcoming fieldwork season, RCU will oversee 10 archaeological projects involving more than 100 specialists, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a global center for archaeological study and intercultural exchange.
Source: Archaeologists Uncover First Bronze Age Town in Northwest Arabia
