Archaeologists have uncovered life-size rock carvings of camels, gazelles, and an extinct auroch in a Middle Eastern desert, dating back approximately 12,000 years, suggesting human habitation 2,000 years earlier than previously understood.
Many engravings, over 6 feet tall, offer a glimpse into prehistoric life and were crafted with wedge-shaped rocks for precision, often on narrow ledges that prevented artists from stepping back to assess their work.
Maria Guagnin from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology praised the skill involved.
The presence of engraving tools at the site supports early human settlement, though survival in arid conditions—possibly via seasonal lakes or crevices—remains unclear.
Dating such art is challenging without written elements or organic remnants like charcoal, as noted by Michael Harrower, an uninvolved archaeologist.
A buried rock pick enabled dating, with findings published in Nature Communications.
Previously, scientists doubted desert habitation due to scarce water, assuming later migration with greener landscapes.
The auroch carving suggests artists traveled to encounter such animals.
Guagnin inferred established communities with deep landscape knowledge, paralleling Europe’s history of animal sacrifices.
This discovery reshapes understanding of prehistoric human activity in the region, highlighting sophisticated artistry and adaptation.
Many engravings, over 6 feet tall, offer a glimpse into prehistoric life and were crafted with wedge-shaped rocks for precision, often on narrow ledges that prevented artists from stepping back to assess their work.
Maria Guagnin from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology praised the skill involved.
The presence of engraving tools at the site supports early human settlement, though survival in arid conditions—possibly via seasonal lakes or crevices—remains unclear.
Dating such art is challenging without written elements or organic remnants like charcoal, as noted by Michael Harrower, an uninvolved archaeologist.
A buried rock pick enabled dating, with findings published in Nature Communications.
Previously, scientists doubted desert habitation due to scarce water, assuming later migration with greener landscapes.
The auroch carving suggests artists traveled to encounter such animals.
Guagnin inferred established communities with deep landscape knowledge, paralleling Europe’s history of animal sacrifices.
This discovery reshapes understanding of prehistoric human activity in the region, highlighting sophisticated artistry and adaptation.