Current Date: 16 Aug, 2026
{{entry.title}}

Saudi Arabia camel carvings dated to prehistoric era

Archaeologists were shocked to discover that a series of camels carved into desert rock faces in north-western Saudi Arabia are actually prehistoric, dating from 7,000-8,000 years ago - before either the Pyramids of Giza or Stonehenge were built.

According to a study, a group of camel sculptures etched into Saudi Arabian rock faces are probably the world’s oldest examples of large-scale animal reliefs.

Researchers calculated that the carvings were made approximately 2,000 years ago when they were first found in 2018.
Their resemblance to the reliefs at Jordan’s well-known historic city of Petra served as the basis for this.

But according to a recent study, the camels are between 7,000 and 8,000 years old.
It is difficult for researchers to determine the exact age of rock sculptures. For example, there is frequently no organic matter to sample, unlike cave paintings. This size of rock art is also uncommon in the area.

To establish a new date for the sculptures’ creation, the researchers examined erosion patterns, examined tool marks, and examined animal bones discovered at the site. Their results were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Given their age, they are even more ancient than sites like Stonehenge (which dates back 5,000 years) and the Giza Pyramids (4,500 years). They even predate the domestication of camels, which sparked the region’s economic growth.
Saudi Arabia didn’t look like the deserts it is today; instead, it was made up of grassy plains dotted with lakes when it was first formed.

Although the purpose of the camel sculptures is unknown, researchers have hypothesized that they may have served as a gathering place for wandering tribes. They also noted the difficulty of making such works thousands of years ago. Many of the reliefs are high above the ground, meaning their carvers would have had to build scaffolding to create them.

The sculptures were first found three years ago in northern Saudi Arabia
Despite the damage the sculptures retain some intricacy
They have been dated to the Neolithic era, the final period of the Stone Age
Saudi Arabia was then inhabited by hunters and herders
This small scale, 2D depiction of camels is more typical of the kind found in the region
Similar Stories
The day Iceland's women went on strike

The day Iceland's women went on strike

Icelandic women went on strike for equal rights on October 24, 1975. 90% of women walked out of their jobs and homes, effectively shutting down the entire country. The men were struggling to keep up. The following year, Parliament passed a law requiring equal pay. Iceland elected the world's first female President five years later. Iceland now has the highest gender equality rate in the world.

Ea-Nasir: world's oldest written customer complaint

Ea-Nasir: world's oldest written customer complaint

This clay tablet, written in cuneiform, is the oldest known written customer complaint about the delivery of poor quality copper ingots. Originally from ancient Babylon, the tablet dates back to 1750 BCE, and it was written by a customer named Nanni to a merchant named Ea-Nasir. It is currently housed in the British Museum.

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

In the 1940s and 1950s, Quaker Oats and MIT conducted experiments on radioactive iron and calcium-containing cereal. The diet was part of a study to see if the nutrients in Quaker oatmeal traveled throughout the body. In January 1998, a $1.85 million settlement was reached for 30 victims who came forward.

The Forgotten Story of Semipalatinsk and the Soviet Nuclear Experiments

The Forgotten Story of Semipalatinsk and the Soviet Nuclear Experiments

Between 1949 and 1989, the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan became the primary location for Soviet nuclear weapons tests, exposing millions of unsuspecting villagers to radioactive fallout. Known as the “Polygon of Suffering,” this remote desert witnessed 456 nuclear detonations that caused widespread health crises, birth defects, and generational genetic damage. This article narrates the chilling legacy of Semipalatinsk, unveiling the human cost of Cold War arms development and the ongoing struggle for healing and recognition in Kazakhstan.

Archaeologists Uncover 2,000-Year-Old Amazonian Cities Using Lidar Technology

Archaeologists Uncover 2,000-Year-Old Amazonian Cities Using Lidar Technology

Deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon, archaeologists have uncovered an ancient network of urban settlements once inhabited by the Upano people about 2,000 years ago. Using cutting-edge lidar technology, these discoveries reveal a highly organized society featuring sophisticated agricultural systems, drainage canals, and extensive road networks. This transformative find challenges long-held assumptions about ancient Amazonian societies and sheds light on a complex civilization thriving in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.

Why Comedians Failed to Make Sober Sue Laugh in the Early 1900s

Why Comedians Failed to Make Sober Sue Laugh in the Early 1900s

In the bustling vaudeville scene of early 20th century New York, a mysterious performer known as "Sober Sue" captured public imagination not for jokes or songs, but for her unshakable stoicism—she never smiled or laughed. A local theater even offered a tempting reward of $1,000 to anyone who could make her laugh, drawing crowds and famous comedians eager to claim the prize. Despite countless hilarious attempts, Sue remained expressionless, a mystery that baffled performers and audiences until it was revealed that she suffered from facial paralysis, explaining her unchanging demeanor.

Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936

Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936

At the 1936 Summer Olympics, two Japanese pole vaulters named Sueo Oe and Shuhei Nishida tied for second, but they declined to compete against each other. As a result, Nishida was awarded the silver medal and Oe won a bronze medal. Upon returning to Japan, the athletes had their medals cut in half and spliced together to create new "friendship medals," which were half silver and half bronze.