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These Carvings In Saudi Arabia May Be The World’s Most Ancient

A study has revealed that a number of camel sculptures, first discovered in 2018, in Saudi Arabia, are likely to be the oldest surviving large scale animal reliefs in the world. Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the researchers behind the study are convinced that the life-size carvings could be between 7,000-8,000 years old.

The carvings that were discovered in the northern province of Al Jouf, are said to be older than the world’s most iconic historical landmarks including Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, which are 4,500 years old, and England’s Stonehenge, which is 5,000 years old.

The researchers also stated in a report by the BBC, that “Neolithic arrowheads and radiocarbon dates attest occupation between 5200 and 5600 BCE. This is consistent with measurements of the areal density of manganese and iron in the rock varnish. The site was likely in use over a longer period and reliefs were re-worked when erosion began to obscure detailed features. By 1000 BCE, erosion was advanced enough to cause first panels to fall, in a process that continues until today.”

The research was done by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, French National Centre for Scientific Research and King Saud University. 

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