Ancient humans used to live in lava tube near Medina 7,000 years ago: research

A new research revealed that ancient humans inhabited a nearly mile-long lava tube at least 7,000 years ago, located near the holy city of Medina in northern Saudi Arabia.

Situated in a volcanic field called Harrat Khaybar, 78 miles (125 kilometers) north of Medina, the Umm Jirsan lava tube is reported to be the longest in Arabia in terms of horizontal passage length, stretching over 1481 meters (4,859 feet).

Volcanic eruptions can create vast underground tunnels called lava tubes. These natural pipelines once carried molten rock, but when the flow stops, they leave behind empty large caves that can provide shelter.

Due to its arid climate, which hinders fossil preservation, ancient remains are scarce in Saudi Arabia.

However, the Umm Jirsan lava tube, shielded from sunlight, provided a valuable location for researchers to explore prehistoric human activity in the region. 

The artifacts unearthed during the search include fragments of cloth and wooden objects, paintings of domesticated animals, and the skeletal remains of nine human bones.

Ancient humans lived in the lava tube for at least 7,000 years, maybe even as long as 10,000 years ago, they said.

Scientists figured this out through radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence dating methods by examining leftover minerals that were once exposed to sunlight.

Archaeologists could not determine exactly when lava last flowed through Umm Jirsan, but the area has often seen volcanic activity for thousands of years. There have been hundreds of eruptions in the past 150 years alone.

The site, however, was not a permanent dwelling for humans but rather provided shelter and water for passing herders, according to explorers.