September 2025 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Heritage Commission board of directors, announced the documentation of the oldest known human settlement on the Arabian Peninsula. The discovery was made at the “Masyoun” site northwest of Tabuk, through ongoing archaeological excavations carried out by the Saudi Heritage Commission in partnership with Kanazawa University of Japan.
Dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, between 11,000 and 10,300 years before present, the settlement provides new insights into early human life in Arabia. Excavations revealed semi-circular stone structures that formed residential units, storage areas, passageways, and fire pits. Stone tools such as arrowheads, knives, and grinding stones were uncovered, alongside decorative items crafted from amazonite, quartz, and shells, indicating both subsistence activities and early craftsmanship.
Located 1,424 meters above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Jabal al-Lawz mountain range, the Masyoun site was first recorded in the National Antiquities Register in 1978. Renewed fieldwork since December 2022 has established its importance as the earliest known settlement on the Arabian Peninsula. Four intensive excavation seasons concluded in May 2024, during which researchers also documented surrounding rock art and inscriptions.
This milestone reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to advancing archaeological research and sharing discoveries that enhance understanding of human history on the Arabian Peninsula.
