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Picture Courtesy: NDTV
Recently, Al-Natah, a 4000-year-old ancient town, was discovered in Saudi Arabia’s Oasis.
The remains of a 4,000-year-old fortified town in an oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia have been discovered.
Location: inside the Khaybar's walled oasis, a lush region surrounded by dry desert.
Origin: dating back to around 2400 BC during the early Bronze Age
Architecture:
The town was possibly functionally divided into three zones: a residential area, a probable decision-making zone, and a necropolis.
The dwellings were constructed with proper spacing following a standard plan and connected by small streets.
The town includes burial sites, with some graves and tiered towers marking higher social status.
The town also had the capacity to hold a population of up to 500 residents.
According to the researchers, Northwestern Arabia during the Bronze Age was largely dominated by pastoral nomadic groups.
It was also integrated into long-distance trade networks and was interconnected with monumental walled oases centered around small fortified towns.
Significance:
This discovery is an example of how people transitioned from a Nomadic to an Urban lifestyle. However, the study shows it as a ‘slow urbanism’ in the transition.
This discovery enhances understanding of the social and architectural developments of that time and also emphasizes the shift towards urbanization.
This urbanization in northwest Arabia was more gradual and specific to the region than Mesopotamian or Egyptian urbanization.
The Bronze Age generally refers to the period between 3300 BC to 1300 BC when human beings started using bronze.
Major Bronze Age cities: Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, Rupar, Rakhigarhi, Dholavira, Lothal, Ganeriwala.
These cities were well-planned and well-organized in terms of architecture, economy (especially trade), and hygiene (well-constructed drainage).
Economic activities: Agriculture, Trade, and Craft.
Source:
NDTV
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Practice Question Q:Consider the following statements about Al-Natah:
How many of the above-mentioned statements are correct? a. Only one b. Only two c. All three d. None Answer: a Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Al-Natah is a 4,000-year-old fortified town in an oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia. Statement 2 is correct. Al-Natah belongs to the Bronze Age of 2400 BC, i.e., 4000 year old. Statement 3 is incorrect. This discovery is an example of how people transitioned from a Nomadic to an Urban lifestyle. However, the study shows it as a ‘slow urbanism’ in the transition. |
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