"7000-Year Human Shelter: Uncovering Ancient Life in a Saudi Arabian Lava Tube"

A nearly mile-long lava tube in Saudi Arabia, known as Umm Jirsan, provided shelter for ancient humans and their domesticated animals for at least 7,000 years. The cave, now inhabited by wolves, foxes, and snakes, contains hundreds of thousands of bones from at least 40 species, dating back to the Neolithic era. While not a permanent residence, the cave served as a crucial pit stop for herders along a pastoral route, offering shade and water for their flocks in the harsh desert environment.