The GeoArchaelogical Records of Harrat Khaybar Area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a Legacy of the Red Sea

We present the preliminary results of the first geoarchaeological survey carried out in the region of Harrat Khaybar in Saudi Arabia, one of the largest in the entire Arabian Peninsula. The survey was prompted by the ongoing research on the geology of the area that is related to the birth of a young ocean, the Red Sea. The area is characterized by a landscape with numerous archaeological stone structures, which were only partially described in literature, but are perfectly preserved. They represent a complete prehistoric landscape that is frozen in time. The structures document the activities of the ancient inhabitants of the region, which appear to be strongly influenced by the geological context of the area. The volcanic stones, the results of eruptions that had alternated between the Miocene and the historical periods, were used in the construction of villages, fences, funeral artefacts, such as the "keyholes", "pendants", "needles," and the more enigmatic structures, such as the "kites" and "gates." The use or connotation of most of these structures is far from being fully understood. The results of the survey put together the preliminary data that could be used for a new project, focusing on an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of anthropology (archaeology and ethnology), geomatics, and the geo-archaeological and bio-archaeological sciences.