Saudi Arabia: 7,000 years old fossils discovered in Umm Jarsan
According to the Saudi Press Agency SPA, archaeologists and palaeontologists from the Saudi Heritage Authority uncovered a new find in Umm Jarsan Cave in collaboration with the Saudi Geological Survey, King Saud University, and the German Max Planck Institute.
Remnants of antiquities and fossils were found inside Umm Jarsan Cave, Bahr Khaybar in Medina, which radiocarbon technology revealed to be more than 7,000 years old.
The cave also contains tens of thousands of animal bones, including striped hyenas, horses, wild and domestic donkeys, wild and domestic camels, ibex, goats, and cows. All were in good condition despite the passage of time, according to the site.
In addition, human skulls were found likely to have been exhumed from nearby prehistoric tombs.
The research team is examining the bones for DNA, while a study is being conducted on the history of grazing in the Arabian Peninsula and animals’ domestication.
The discovery comes as part of a series of works by the Heritage Authority. It confirms that the Arabian Peninsula has been home to humans for thousands of years as domestic and non-domesticated animals.
