Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Heritage Commission announced the discovery and documentation of an exceptional group of life-size early rock art engravings, estimated to date back between 11,400 and 12,800 years.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, were identified at sites south of Al-Nafud Al-Kabir desert in the Hail Region. The work was carried out under the “Green Arabia Project,” in collaboration with an international research team from several local and global universities and research centers.

The discovery represents the earliest scientifically dated phase of rock art in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the Arabian Peninsula’s role as an early center of artistic creativity. The finding adds a significant contribution to the Kingdom’s record of archaeological discoveries, providing material evidence of the development of rock art and its connection to patterns of life and culture in prehistoric times. It also enhances understanding of the cultural and economic ties that linked the northern Arabian Peninsula with neighboring regions thousands of years ago.

The scientific discovery included the documentation of 176 rock carvings, of which 130 are life-size depictions of camels, ibexes, horses, gazelles, and the now extinct aurochs. Some of the carvings reach up to three meters in length, with several located in elevated, hard-to-access areas, reflecting the considerable effort and advanced skill of the ancient artists.

The study's results showed that the documented rock art was produced during a humid climatic phase, dated to between 13,000 and 16,000 years ago. The climate facilitated the survival and geographic expansion of human groups in areas that are today classified as arid.