RIYADH: The Saudi Heritage Commission unveiled new findings this week that prove the Kingdom was a vital oasis eight million years ago.
Mesfer Alqahtani, archaeology consultant at the commission, said on Wednesday: 鈥淭he core findings of this study is that the Arabian Peninsula was not always a desert, it underwent repeated humid phases that supported rich biodiversity and sustained both land and marine ecosystems, making it a natural bridge for the movement of species between Africa and Asia in the ancient world.鈥澛
The SHC, in collaboration with leading local and international institutions, led聽a scientific聽mission that looked into the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes preserved in cave formations. It used a combination of dating techniques such as uranium-thorium and uranium lead analysis studies to document the longest-known record of ancient climate in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back about eight million years.
The study analyzed 22 speleothem samples extracted from seven desert caves located northeast of Riyadh near Shawayyah in Rumah governorate. The caves are locally known as Duhool Al-Samman.聽
Experts at the SHC underlined that these findings provide clear evidence of recurrent humid and rainy periods in the region鈥檚 past.聽
The study also found fossils pointing to the presence of a fertile environment.
Dr. Ajab Alotaibi, director general of the commission鈥檚 antiquities sector, said that the study highlighted the Arabian Peninsula鈥檚 crucial role as a corridor for the dispersal of organisms between Africa, Asia and Europe.
The study is part of the commission鈥檚 flagship initiative, the Green Arabia Project, which aims to explore the region鈥檚 natural and environmental history.
Michael Petralia, professor and director, Australian Research Center for Human Evolution, said: 鈥淥ur archaeological work on the lakes of Arabia has now indicated that humans and early humans were in 黑料社区 500,000 years ago; that tells us immediately that Arabia acted as a crossroads between continents, between Africa and Asia, so this is a landscape that is very important in terms of documenting heritage, paleontology, archaeology, through time.鈥
The SHC-led findings have been published in the scientific journal, 鈥淣ature,鈥 under the title 鈥淩ecurrent humid phases in Arabia over the past 8 million years.鈥澛
The research brought together 30 scientists from 28 organizations 鈥 local and international 鈥 including the Heritage Commission, the Saudi Geological Survey, King Saud University, the Max Planck Institute in Germany, Griffith University in Australia, and several universities and research centers across Germany, Italy, the UK and the US.
According to the SHC, the study marks a major milestone for the Green Arabia Project, one of 黑料社区鈥檚 most ambitious efforts to promote scientific research and document the natural and cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.
These findings also offer valuable insights into restoring 黑料社区 to its original, greener state, supporting pivotal projects such as Green Riyadh and the Saudi Green Initiative.
The project seeks to better understand how environmental and climatic changes have shaped the region across eras 鈥 contributing to a richer, more complete understanding of 黑料社区鈥檚 natural history.
Jasir Al-Herbish, CEO of the SHC, reaffirmed the commission鈥檚 commitment to advancing research and fostering international collaborations.
