Living in Lava Tubes: Ancient Humans’ Surprising Home Revealed
Ancient humans lived in lava tubes inside cave systems around 7,000 years ago, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS One. The lava tube in question is called Umm Jirsan and is located in Saudi Arabia.
Pastoralist Use and Rock Art Evidence
The researchers found repeated phases of human occupation at the site, ranging from the Neolithic period to the Chalcolithic/Bronze Age. The study revealed evidence of pastoralist use of the lava tube and the surrounding landscape through rock art and faunal records. A pastoralist refers to individuals who raise livestock and can include nomadic herders or ancient farmers.
Supporting Scientific Claims Through Cave Art
Long-lost cave art inside the lava tube supported the scientists’ claims that the inhabitants were farming specific animals. The artwork depicted sheep, goats, and long-horned cattle, accompanied by bones from these animals.
Formation of Lava Tubes and Artefacts
Lava tubes are created when flowing lava beneath a hardened surface of a lava flow creates a new cave formation once the lava dissipates. Umm Jirsan features horizontal passages measuring approximately 4,859 feet long. Researchers believe that the lava tube did not serve as a permanent habitation site but rather as a location along herding routes, providing shade and water for passing herders and their animals.
Link to Pastoral and Hunting Activities
According to the study, in addition to herding activities, the lava tube likely played a role in hunting activities that persisted into the Bronze Age. Today, the practice of using lava tubes for shelter continues in the same region, according to Live Science.
This study sheds new light on ancient human behaviors and practices, revealing the unexpected use of lava tubes as living spaces thousands of years ago in Saudi Arabia.