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RIYADH: The oldest architectural settlement in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back to the pre-pottery Neolithic period of 10,300-11,000 years ago, has been discovered near Tabuk, ����ֱ��’s Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday.

Dr. Ajab Al-Otaibi, director general of the Heritage Commission’s antiquities sector, said the find was “among the oldest settlements in the world.”

Archeological excavations at the Masiyon site northwest of Tabuk, were carried out by the commission in partnership with Japan’s Kanazawa University, and in collaboration with Neom.

Although the area has been listed on the National Antiquities Register since 1978, studies in December 2022 revealed it to be the earliest known example of human settlement in the Arabian Peninsula.

Four excavations seasons were conducted up to May 2024 using advanced methods such as documenting stratigraphic layers, classifying artifacts, and analyzing organic samples to establish absolute dating.

Semi-circular granite structures were uncovered — including residential buildings, passageways, hearths and storage areas — suggesting a functional layout supporting hunting and early grain cultivation.

Other finds included stone tools such as grinding stones, knives and arrowheads, along with decorative objects, ceramics, agricultural tools, beehives and human and animal skeletons. Stones engraved with geometric patterns were also unearthed. 

The commission described the discovery as a landmark in understanding the origins of human settlements in ����ֱ��’s northwest and the Kingdom’s wider history.

Al-Otaibi said the findings “highlight the pivotal role of the Arabian Peninsula in the emergence of human civilization.”

They also support the theory that the northwest was a natural extension of Mesopotamia, the Levant and Southern Anatolia — otherwise known as the Fertile Crescent — and that it was home to humanity’s early transition from nomadism to settlement.