4,000-year-old ancient settlement discovered in Saudi Arabia’s Khaybar Oasis, sheds light on early urban life

Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000-year-old fortified town in northwest Saudi Arabia, shedding light on the transition from nomadic to urban lifestyles. This significant discovery, located in the oasis of Khaybar, reveals the early social complexity and urban planning of ancient societies.

A study published in PLOS One indicates that the town supported up to 500 residents and played an essential role in the region's history. "Preliminary archaeological survey and soundings have revealed a fortified 2.6-hectare town built around 2400-2000 BCE that lasted until at least 1500 BCE and possibly 1300 BCE but with possible interruptions, functionally subdivided into a residential area, a probable decision-making zone, and a necropolis," the study stated.

Al-Natah: A Hidden Gem

The town, named al-Natah, was found within Khaybar’s walled oasis, a lush region surrounded by desert. Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, the team discovered a 14.5-kilometer wall enclosing the residential area. This discovery, published in the journal PLOS One, provides tangible evidence of organized occupancy.


Dating back to around 2400 BC during the early Bronze Age, al-Natah is believed to have supported up to 500 residents. This highlights its importance in the region’s historical landscape and enhances our understanding of social and architectural developments of the time.

Urbanization in Northwestern Arabia

The study reveals that Northwestern Arabia during the Bronze Age was dominated by pastoral nomadic groups integrated into long-distance trade networks. The region was dotted with interconnected monumental walled oases centered around small fortified towns.

The researchers describe a process of “slow urbanism” in the transition from nomadic to settled life. Fortified oases like al-Natah fostered exchanges among pastoral nomads, marking a gradual and unique urbanization path specific to northwest Arabia.

In the Bronze Age, the northwestern Arabian Peninsula was home to a significant number of nomadic pastoral communities, but the region also had a number of walled oases that were connected to one another and were located around fortified cities like Tayma.

The study was conducted by the Royal Commission for AlUla in collaboration with the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (AFALULA) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).

Khaybar Oasis, located on the edge of the Harrat Khaybar volcanic field, formed at the meeting point of three valleys in a highly arid area. The remains of the town were discovered on the northern edge of the oasis, buried beneath layers of basalt rock for thousands of years.