The site, known as Masyun, is estimated to be between 10,300 and 11,000 years old, making it one of the earliest stages of human settlement in history.
Saudi Arabian Commission for Cultural Heritage. Masyoun settlement, view from above.
Archaeologists estimate that the site is between 10,300 and 11,000 years old, placing it in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic era. Based on finds uncovered at the Masyun settlement, archaeologists also suggest that it was a permanent settlement where people lived for a long time.
Researchers discovered semicircular stone structures where people once lived, surrounded by storage areas, passages, and hearths. Archaeologists also discovered stone tools at the excavation site, including arrowheads, knives, and whetstones, as well as decorative objects made of amazonite, quartz, and shells, suggesting that the settlement's inhabitants engaged not only in toolmaking but also in crafts.
Among these finds, archaeologists also discovered human skeletons from the Neolithic era, the burials of which reflect prehistoric burial practices in the region.
The Place of Masyun in the Near East during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Age
The settlements found at the site were made of stone and were deliberately placed, suggesting that Masyoun was not just a camp, but a settlement where Neolithic people lived permanently.
This settlement thus offers a new perspective on the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, which began approximately 11,600–10,200 years ago and represented a transitional period from hunter-gatherer societies to more permanent settlements. Importantly, during this period, communities began to focus more on resource production and conservation, settling permanently in one place rather than moving from place to place like hunter-gatherers.
This led to important social changes: people began living together for longer periods, sharing responsibilities for food production and storage within their settlements. One of the most famous Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlements is Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, built between 9500 and 8000 BC.
What role did the Masyun site play in this region during this period? Many questions like this remain. But one thing is clear: this is an incredible archaeological find—a 10,000-year-old settlement, the oldest known human settlement on the Arabian Peninsula.
As Saudi Arabia's Minister of Culture, Bader bin Farhan Al Saud, wrote on Instagram: “The excavations at Masyoun tell the story of human life between 11,000 and 10,300 years ago.” Few archaeological sites ever discovered can boast such a status.
After learning about the oldest known human settlement on the Arabian Peninsula, discover the fascinating history of Hegra, an ancient city in Saudi Arabia that remained untouched for 2,000 years. Then explore this stunning collection of the world's most incredible ancient ruins.
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