A recent excavation led by archaeologist Guillaume Charlo from the French National Centre for Scientific Research has unveiled an exceptional Bronze Age site named 'Al-Nata' in Saudi Arabia. This site, located in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula, represents the first extensive examination of an ancient settlement of its kind.
The fortified town spans approximately 2.5 hectares (0.025 square kilometers) and is believed to have been established between 2400 and 2000 BCE, continuing until around 1500 BCE, with possible intermittent occupation until 1300 BCE.
The findings indicate a central area surrounded by residential zones and defensive walls, with a burial site suggesting a modest social stratification among its estimated 500 inhabitants. The layout of Al-Nata features organized urban planning, with narrow streets connecting uniformly designed homes.
This discovery sheds light on a transitional phase characterized by 'low urbanization' in the region, where small fortified towns were common during the early to mid-Bronze Age. The study emphasizes the need for further excavations across the Arabian Peninsula to better understand the timing of urban transitions and subsequent social and architectural changes.
Al-Nata is situated on elevated terrain, with an average altitude of 730 meters above sea level, descending to 718 meters towards cultivated areas. The site demonstrates control over key communication routes, including a valley extending east-west and a road leading to other significant locations.
Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Authority has officially registered and documented 202 new archaeological sites, bringing the total to 9,119 sites. The research indicates that the Northwest Arabian region, during the Bronze Age, was connected to distant trade networks and featured fortified oases.
This discovery not only enriches the understanding of early urban development in the Arabian Peninsula but also provides a comparative perspective against other contemporary urban centers in the Levant and Mesopotamia.