Desk Report
Publish: 19 Sep 2021, 10:00 pm
Saudi Arabia Camel Carvings Dated to Prehistoric Era || Photo: Collected
A
series of camel sculptures carved into rock faces in Saudi Arabia are likely to
be the oldest large-scale animal reliefs in the world, a study says.
When
the carvings were first discovered in 2018, researchers estimated they were
created about 2,000 years ago.
This
was based on their similarity to reliefs at Jordan's famous ancient city of
Petra.
But a
fresh study puts the camels at between 7,000-8,000 old.
Precisely
ageing rock sculptures is a challenge for researchers. Unlike cave paintings,
say, there is often no organic matter to sample. Rock art of this size is also
rare in the region.
The
researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of Archaeological
Science, assessed erosion patterns, analysed tool marks, and tested animal
bones found at the site to determine a new date for the sculptures' creation.
Their
age makes them even older than such ancient landmarks as Stonehenge (5,000
years old) or the Pyramids at Giza (4,500 years old). They even predate the
domestication of camels, a catalyst for economic development in the region.
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Topic : Camel sculptures Saudi Arabia
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