These walls are similar in structure to others found around the Middle East that have been dubbed “gates”, due to their resemblance to barred gates when seen from above. Google Earth Reveals Hundreds of Ancient Stone 'Gates' in Saudi Arabia. Varying greatly in size, the longest measures more than half a kilometre, while the shortest is just 13 metres. They may have been built by ancient nomadic tribes. Australian archaeologist chronicles mysterious stone 'gates' in Saudi Arabia’s desert By Nicholas St Fleur Updated October 20, 2017 — 3.32pm first published at 2.06pm Satellite images have revealed mysterious, ancient stone structures in Saudi Arabian lava fields. Hundreds of unidentified stone structures have been newly discovered in Saudi Arabia using Google Earth. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? So why did ancient people in Saudi Arabia built gates on top of volcanic fields in the remote desert? But the structures found by Mr Kennedy are unlike any before them. WILEY/ARABIAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND EPIGRAPHY/DOUGLAS KENNEDY. Read our full mailing list consent terms here, “The works known as Kites, which are certainly animal traps, may be as old as 9,000 years before present in some cases and there is one example of a kite overlying a gate. A scientist using Google Earth has stumbled upon hundreds of ancient stone structures in Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of ancient stone monuments, found in parts of Saudi Arabia, could be some of the oldest in the world, a new study says. First Detailed Study Deepens The Mystery of Vast Stone Monuments in Saudi Arabia Michelle Starr 8/19/2020 Tony Weaver Jr. encourages Black youths with powerful messages and images. The SpaceX Crew Launched With Baby Yoda And Internet is Loving It! This picture shows several gates found clustered together. More than 400 stone structures were discovered in one of the kingdom’s deserts. To put this i… Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. ... Related: Spectacular new photos of the 'gates' in Saudi Arabia. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. The "gate" at bottom right is about 1200 feet long. A researcher at The University of Western Australia has used Google Earth imagery to identify almost 400 previously undocumented stone structures known as ‘Gates’ in Saudi Arabia. In the past decade, Google Earth also has helped identify thousands of burial sites and other “works of the old men,” as they’re called, scattered across Saudi Arabia. Google Earth may have just led to a new point of study for archaeologists in Saudi Arabia. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Melbourne: Scientists have discovered about 400 previously undocumented stone structures known as 'Gates' in Saudi Arabia with the help of Google Earth imagery. I have argued in the article that they are the earliest of the so-called ‘Works of the Old Men’, the stone-built structures found widely in Arabia from northern Syria to Yemen, but especially common in the lava fields,” Mr Kennedy told Newsweek. Hundreds of mysterious stone structures discovered on edge of ancient volcanoes in Saudi Arabia. Google Earth reveals ancient stone gates in Saudi Arabia 23 October 2017, by Jess Reid Credit: University of Western Australia A researcher at The University of Western Strange elongate stone gates in Saudi Arabia. David Kennedy, professor of archaeology at the University of Oxford, discovered around 400 stone walls that could be more than 9,000 years old in the western Harrat Khaybar region of the country. MELBOURNE: Scientists have discovered about 400 previously undocumented stone structures known as 'Gates' in Saudi Arabia with the help of Google Earth imagery. The gates are found in groups and are largely located in the Harrat Khaybar, a lava field in Saudi Arabia. In addition, they may find more examples of what these strange people were like in this remote region of Saudi Arabia. However, it’s hard to fully piece together the story while being thousands of miles away and relying solely on satellite imagery. Kennedy’s most recent paper is entirely about the stone gates. Many of the stone structures include multiple walls which form … The stone structures, nicknamed "gates" due to their resemblance of field gates from satellite images, are clustered around the volcanic region of Harrat Khaybar, Saudi Arabia. “It is impossible at the moment to date these gates except relatively. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as the saying goes. Scientists have discovered about 400 previously undocumented stone structures known as ‘Gates’ in Saudi Arabia with the help of Google Earth imagery. The largest of the walls reach almost 1,700 feet long. UPI 23 Oct 2017. The stone structures are all associated with old lava domes, now inactive, but were active during construction of these stone gates. Other structures built by the “Old Men” include “kites”, which archaeologists say are stone structures used to catch migratory birds. That’s pretty astounding. Satellite images have revealed mysterious, ancient stone structures in Saudi Arabian lava fields. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Scientists have discovered a few hundreds of the stone structures in a remote part of Saudi Arabia. The stone structures, nicknamed “gates” due to their resemblance of field gates […] Many of the gates found by Mr Kennedy are sat on ancient lava domes – the hardened remains of lava flows. Hundreds of mysterious stone 'Gates' discovered in Saudi Arabia PTI Saudi Arabia Oct 25, 2017, 06.57 AM(IST) Shapes range from giant circles of stone that may be 400 meters across to kites that may have been used as animal traps, pendants used as funerary monuments, and many more. A study conducted with the help of Google Earth has discovered ancient giant stone gates in Saudi Arabia, supposedly the remnants of an ancient civilization. The volcanic domes ejected basaltic lava, which flowed down the sides of the dome creating large lava fields. Using Google Earth, an archaeologist has identified nearly 400 stone structures called “gates” in Saudi Arabia. Oct. 23 (UPI) — With the help of Google Earth, a single researcher from the University of Western Australia has identified 400 previously undocumented stone “gates” in Saudi Arabia. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. While Saudi Arabia is largely thought of as barren mountains and desert, it was also home to an immense number of archaeological sites that were yet to be identified, […] These stone structures, called ‘gates’ (because that’s what they look like from an aeriel POV), were never documented before. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. The team found other stone structures, including stone “kites” used to hunt animals and wheels. While Saudi Arabia is … Google Earth Reveals Hundreds of Ancient Stone 'Gates' in Saudi Arabia Home Mysterious Stone ‘Gates’ Discovered In Saudi Arabia, Gymkhana 2020 is Here and It’s All Sorts of Crazy, This Happens When You Re-Upload a YouTube Video 1,000 Times, How to Turn Your Android Device Into a Retro Gaming Machine. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. By Sophie Weiner. The next steps will be to lead an archaeological survey of the area, allowing the research team to collect samples and inspect the gates more closely. In fact, some of the walls mimic an “I” shape while others are rectangular. It is said that the stone structures are dating back thousands of years. Mystery of Saudi Arabia's ancient 'gates': 400 stone structures found on the edge of volcanoes are spotted on Google Earth, but archaeologists have no idea why they were built. Made of low stone walls that are sometimes built in a rectangular shape the purpose and exact date of the gates are unknown although researchers believe that they date back thousands of years. Many of the stone walls, which archaeologists call "gates" because they resemble field gates from above, were found in clusters in a region in west-central Saudi Arabia called Harrat Khaybar. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Hundreds of mysterious structures have been discovered on ancient lava domes in Saudi Arabia by an archaeologist using Google Earth. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Although the volcanoes are inactive, some gates bear traces of lava, providing another potential way of dating them. Archeologists are suggesting that the ‘gate-like’ structures could be over 7000 years old, making them potentially the oldest man-made structures found in this part of the world. The nearly 400 stone structures, nicknamed “gates” because they resembled field gates from satellite images, were clustered around the volcanic region of Harrat Khaybar in Saudi Arabia. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. These stone features were found by archaeologists with the use of satellite imagery, identifying what they call stone “gates” in an inhospitable area. About 400 mysterious stone structures which archaeologists call "gates," based off of their loose resemblance to "old fashioned field gates," have been discovered in Saudi Arabia. The research team of archaeologists admits with the current amount of evidence, it’s hard to know for sure. These are often found on top of gates found in other areas of the Middle East. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Scientists have discovered about 400 previously undocumented stone structures known as 'Gates' in Saudi Arabia with the help of Google Earth imagery. Deep in the heart of Saudi Arabia, 400 mysterious stone structures have been discovered, dating back thousands of years ago. Google Earth helps researchers identify 400 ancient stone gates in Saudi Arabia. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. David Kennedy finds 400 'gates' in west of country using Google Earth As of now, researchers have more questions than answers regarding what these structures were used for, who built them, how old are they, and their meaning. The imagery shows the gates to be of various sizes (ranging from 43 feet (13 meters) to 1,699 feet (518 meters) in length). On top of these fields are roughly built and low stone walls, suggesting they weren’t used to retain cattle. Structures remain a mystery. Hundreds of Mysterious Stone ‘Gates’ Found in Saudi Arabia’s Desert - The New York Times; Share or comment on this article: Aerial images closest ever taken of Saudi stone structures. Melbourne, Oct 24 (PTI) Scientists have discovered about 400 previously undocumented stone structures known as ‘Gates’ in Saudi Arabia with the help of Google Earth imagery. 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Smart News Keeping you current Google Earth Leads to Discovery of 400 Stone “Gates” in Saudi Arabia Amateur researchers first came across the rock structures in 2004. Massive stone structures in Saudi Arabia may be some of oldest monuments in the world Owen Jarus 8/24/2020. These stone features were found by archaeologists with the use of satellite imagery, identifying what they call stone “gates” in an inhospitable area. 400 mysterious stone 'gates', up to 7,000 years old, discovered in Saudi Arabia At present, archaeologists are unclear on the purpose of the formations. Deep in the heart of Saudi Arabia, 400 mysterious stone structures have been discovered, dating back thousands of years ago. While Saudi Arabia is largely thought of as barren mountains and desert, it was also home to an immense number of archaeological sites that were yet to be identified, recorded and mapped, said David Kennedy, … So Gates may be up to or more than 9,000 years old, which takes one back to the Neolithic.”. The stone structures, nicknamed “gates” due to their resemblance of field gates from satellite images, are clustered around the volcanic region of Harrat Khaybar, Saudi Arabia. And the space between gates varies from miles apart to “almost touching”. LiveScience has reported that archaeologists, using mainly satellite images, have discovered nearly 400 of the ancient stone “gates” in what used to be an active volcano field in Saudi Arabia. "While we [tend] to think of Saudi Arabia as largely barren mountains and desert, it was also home to an immense number of archaeological sites that were yet to be identified, recorded and mapped," the university said. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. The study will appear in the upcoming issue of Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy. The team will soon publish their research in the journal Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy. It’s unclear who built these gates but they are the oldest and one of the very few man-made structures in this remote part of Saudi Arabia. Although their purpose is unknown, gates are known to the Bedouin as “Works of the Old Men”. We also know that the stones were built during active volcanism and that some of the walls are covered in newer flows, meaning the wall predates some of the volcanic flows. Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of ancient stone structures, some in the shape of field gates, across Saudi Arabia. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? David Kennedy finds 400 'gates' in west of country using Google Earth, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. 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