"7000-Year-Old Human Refuge Found in Saudi Arabian Lava Tube"
The Umm Jirsan lava tube system in Saudi Arabia has provided shelter for humans herding livestock for at least 7,000 years, with archaeological remains including stone tool fragments, animal remains, and human bones dating back to that time. This discovery sheds light on the occupation of volcanic caves by early humans as temporary refuges during migrations between oases, and suggests that thousands of similar volcanic caves across Saudi Arabia hold promise for understanding the migrations of early humans.