Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000-year-old fortified town named Al-Natah in northwest Saudi Arabia, revealing insights into early urban development within the Khaybar Oasis.
This significant find sheds light on the ancient shift from nomadic to settled life, marking the oasis as a hub for early urbanization in a region otherwise known for nomadic lifestyles.
Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, the team discovered an impressive 14.5-kilometer wall surrounding the town, offering evidence of organized settlement and protection.
Dating back to 2400 BCE, the site likely housed up to 500 residents, providing a glimpse into social organization and architectural planning from the early to middle Bronze Age.
Archaeologists found that the town's nucleated dwellings were arranged systematically, connected by narrow streets and separated into distinct areas: residential zones, a necropolis, and what is thought to be a communal decision-making area.
The study suggests that northwest Arabia was home to similar walled oases, interconnected within regional trade networks and distinct from the grander urban models seen in Mesopotamia or Egypt.
This gradual form of urbanization, termed "slow urbanism," shows a unique path of settlement in north Arabia, where fortified oases like Al-Natah fostered increased social complexity and exchanges among early pastoral communities.