• Challenges traditional view of transition from nomadic pastoralism to nascent urbanism

ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 2, 2024 — New archaeological research has uncovered a remarkable Bronze Age town in the Khaybar oasis of northwest Arabia, providing evidence for a major shift from a mobile, nomadic lifestyle to a settled, urban existence in the latter half of the third millennium BCE.

The discovery suggests that oases like Khaybar were carefully managed and valuable landscapes that, with the introduction of agriculture, supported permanent populations as centers for trade and interaction with mobile communities. This nascent urbanism significantly impacted the region’s socio-economic organization.

Known as al-Natah, the newly discovered town presents evidence for distinct functional areas – residential and burial grounds – within fortifications. Al-Natah was constructed around 2400-2000 BCE and existed until 1500-1300 BCE. Housing around 500 people across 2.6 hectares, it was protected by a stone rampart that surrounded the Khaybar oasis.

The inhabitants of al-Natah resided in dwellings where the ground floor may have served as storage, with living spaces located above. They traversed narrow streets and interred their deceased in stepped tower tombs. They prepared food using mortars and pestles, produced and traded pottery, and travelled extensively. They worked with metals, cultivated cereals, and raised livestock.

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla and Minister of Culture for Saudi Arabia, stated: “This significant archaeological discovery highlights the Kingdom’s global importance in the field of archaeology and affirms the depth of civilization that the land possesses. This discovery reinforces the Kingdom’s efforts in protecting cultural and historical heritage and emphasizes the importance of exchanging knowledge and expertise with the world to enhance awareness of our shared human heritage.”

His Highness added, “This discovery confirms the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding the world’s heritage and promoting cultural heritage in accordance with the provisions of Saudi Vision 2030. It also underscores the importance of strengthening international partnerships to present this rich legacy to future generations and the world.”

The discovery was led by Dr Guillaume Charloux of the Khaybar Longue Durée Archaeological Project and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and includes Saudis from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Dr Munirah Almushawh, a co-director of the project, and Saifi Alshilali, a historian and a member of the local community in Khaybar.

The research was sponsored by the RCU and the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (AFALULA). RCU’s Archaeology, Collections and Conservation team is directing an ambitious archaeological research program in AlUla.

The discovery further solidifies the emergence of AlUla and Saudi Arabia as global hubs for archaeological research and intercultural dialogue. By commissioning and championing groundbreaking research on past human activity, RCU is demonstrating its archaeological leadership and responsible stewardship of cultural heritage.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, the research challenges the traditional view of mobile pastoral-nomadism as the predominant economic and social way of life of northwest Arabia during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages.

Dr Charloux, stated: “Our discovery challenges the existing model of northwest Arabia in the Bronze Age. Al-Natah confirms that rural urbanism emerged earlier than previously believed, making it possible to consider the complexity of a sedentary settlement in a walled Bronze Age oasis.”

During the upcoming autumn fieldwork season, RCU is supporting 10 archaeological projects involving more than 100 archaeologists and associated specialists in AlUla County and Khaybar.

The article can be found here:

For an image gallery and captions, including a rendering of what al-Natah might have looked like, visit:

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