- Pioneering research dates canine bones found in north-west Saudi Arabia 
burial site to between circa 4200 and 4000 BCE

- Fieldwork shows region's ancient inhabitants were more complex than 
previously believed, with multiple interments over hundreds of years in 
prominently placed monuments marking the landscape

A team of archaeologists in north-west Saudi Arabia has uncovered the earliest 
evidence of dog domestication by the region's ancient inhabitants.

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The discovery came from one of the projects in the large-scale archaeological 
surveys and excavations of the region commissioned by the Royal Commission for 
AlUla (RCU).

The researchers found the dog's bones in a burial site that is one of the 
earliest monumental tombs identified in Arabia, roughly contemporary with such 
tombs already dated further north in the Levant.

Evidence shows the earliest use of the tomb was circa 4300 BCE and received 
burials for at least 600 years during the Neolithic-Chalcolithic era -- an 
indication that the inhabitants may have had a shared memory of people, places 
and the connection between them. 

"What we are finding will revolutionize how we view periods like the Neolithic 
in the Middle East. To have that kind of memory, that people may have known for 
hundreds of years where their kin were buried – that's unheard of in this 
period in this region," said Melissa Kennedy, assistant director of the Aerial 
Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (AAKSAU) -- AlUla project.

"AlUla is at a point where we're going to begin to realize how important it was 
to the development of mankind across the Middle East," said the AAKSAU 
director, Hugh Thomas.

This is the earliest evidence of a domesticated dog in Arabia by a margin of 
circa 1,000 years.

The findings are being published in the Journal of Field Archaeology.

The project team, with Saudi and international members, focused its efforts on 
two above-ground burial sites dating to the 5th and 4th millennia BCE and 
located 130 kilometres apart, one in volcanic uplands and the other in arid 
badlands. The sites were above ground, which is unique for that period of 
Arabian history, and were positioned for maximum visibility.

The research team detected the sites by using satellite imagery and then by 
aerial photography from a helicopter. Ground fieldwork began in late 2018.

It was in the volcanic uplands site that 26 fragments of a single dog's bones 
were found, alongside with bones from 11 humans – six adults, an adolescent and 
four children.

The dog's bones showed signs of arthritis, which suggests the animal lived with 
the humans into its middle or old age.

After assembling the bones, the team then had to determine that they were from 
a dog and not from a similar animal such as a desert wolf. 

The team's zooarchaeologist, Laura Strolin, was able to show it was indeed a 
dog by analysing one bone in particular, from the animal's left front leg. The 
breadth of this bone was 21.0 mm, which is in the range of other ancient Middle 
Eastern dogs. In comparison, the wolves of that time and place had a breadth of 
24.7 to 26 mm for the same bone. 

The dog's bones were dated to between circa 4200 and 4000 BCE.

Rock art found in the region indicates that the Neolithic inhabitants used dogs 
when hunting ibex, wild asses and other animals. 

The fieldwork uncovered other noteworthy artefacts, including a leaf-shaped 
mother-of-pearl pendant at the volcanic uplands site and a carnelian bead found 
at the arid badlands site.

The researchers expect more findings in future as a result of the massive 
survey from the air and on the ground, and multiple targeted excavations in the 
AlUla region undertaken by the AAKSAU and other teams, which are operating 
under the auspices of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). The AAKSAU team is 
led by researchers from the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia.

The researchers note that AlUla is a largely unexplored area located in a part 
of the world that has a fertile archaeological heritage of recognized global 
value.

"This article from RCU's work at AlUla establishes benchmarks. There is much 
more to come as we reveal the depth and breadth of the area's archaeological 
heritage," said Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 
Research for RCU.

Other aspects of the intensive archaeological activity at AlUla will be 
revealed in the new Discovery Channel show Architects of Ancient Arabia, which 
debuts on March 31. 

This reflects the commitment of the Royal Commission for AlUla to highlight the 
history and heritage of the county, and to transform AlUla into the largest 
living museum in the world, aligning with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 
2030. 

About AlUla
Located 1,100km from Riyadh in north-west Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of 
extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km(²), 
includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural 
heritage sites dating back thousands of years.

The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first 
UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal 
southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and comprises nearly 100 well-preserved 
tombs with elaborate facades cut into sandstone outcrops. Current research 
suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Romans after conquering the 
Nabataeans in 106 CE.

In addition to Hegra, AlUla is home to a series of fascinating historical and 
archaeological sites such as: Ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and 
Lihyan Kingdoms, which is considered one of the most developed 1st-millennium 
BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula; thousands of ancient rock art sites and 
inscriptions; and Hijaz Railway stations.

About the Royal Commission for AlUla
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 
2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and 
cultural significance in North-West Saudi Arabia. RCU's long-term plan outlines 
a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic 
development, that preserves the area's natural and historic heritage, while 
establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This 
encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, 
education and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic 
diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation 
priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme.

Other RCU development work
Over the past three years, RCU has conducted other development work with 
multiple partners around the world. This has included expanding capacity at 
AlUla airport by 300 percent and building Maraya, the award-winning 
multi-purpose conference and entertainment venue. The 500-seat Maraya, the 
world's largest mirrored building, has hosted global signature events, such as 
the Hegra Conference of Nobel Laureates and the Winter at Tantora cultural 
festival, which featured artists including Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang. 
Additionally, previously announced signature hospitality projects include the 
development of luxury resorts in partnership with Accor, Habitas, Aman and Jean 
Nouvel. 

SOURCE: Royal Commission for AlUla for Saudi Arabia