The ancient people of the Arabian Desert left behind impressive rock art, including a large depiction of a camel, likely marking a water source.

Michael Petraglia, from Griffith University in Brisbane, along with his team, uncovered 176 sculptures across 62 panels in the Nehod Desert of Saudi Arabia in 2023. This collection includes not only life-size camel images but also 15 smaller camel sculptures and two camel footprints.

One particular rock art site featured a 3-meter-high dromedary located over 40 meters high on a cliff, making it impossible for the research team to safely access it without using a drone.

“Creating these sculptures must have been perilous,” Petraglia remarked. “Reaching that height was unfeasible.”

Besides camels, the rock art also illustrates other large animals such as ibex, horses, gazelles, and aurochs, highlighting what must have been a once mild climate. The team also uncovered carved human figures and masks.

“This isn’t merely about inscribing or altering the landscape,” Petraglia emphasizes. “These sculptures hold significant cultural value.”

Researchers propose that these images may have served as warnings to outsiders about the land’s occupation or indicated temporary water sources. Such findings contribute to the understanding of the extensive prehistoric habitation of Saudi Arabia.

Natural varnishes forming over the sculpture suggest it has aged for about 8,000 years. However, since the artwork itself couldn’t be dated directly, the team excavated sediments beneath the rock art panel.

There, the team found stone points, beads, and objects linking back to the late Neolithic people of the Levant, as well as tools that were likely used for sculpting. These artifacts date back around 12,800 to 11,400 years.

Excavations also took place near a small temporary lake called Playa, which ancient people would have depended on. Evidence from sediment and pollen confirms that this area was once far more verdant and hospitable.

Nonetheless, Petraglia believes the environment remains harsh, making it unlikely that people could establish permanent settlements in the area.

“These were likely transient communities, showcasing innovation,” he notes. “These were adept hunter-gatherers, far from mere survivalists.”

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