Lava tubes in a cave in the Saudi Arabian desert have provided shelter for nomads for centuries, but a recent discovery has uncovered evidence of life that dates back thousands of years. Australian archaeologists have been studying the 1.5-kilometer-long lava tube known as Umm Jirsan, which was created by lava flow and is located beneath a basaltic plateau in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The lava tube has yielded animal bones, stone tools, pottery, and petroglyphs that date back 7,000-10,000 years. The petroglyphs depict domestic animals and provide insights into the prehistory of the Arabian Peninsula. This discovery sheds light on a time when the region was not always a dry desert but had lakes and lush vegetation that attracted people and animals from Africa.
Despite the harsh desert climate, the lava tube remains cooler and protective, serving as a source of shade and water for farmers and shepherds in the area. By studying the artifacts found in the lava tube, researchers aim to piece together the history of human occupation in the region and the interactions between humans and the environment over thousands of years.
In addition to this discovery on Earth, there are plans to establish bases on the moon by 2030. The US is set to complete its base, with China also building its own. Lava tubes on the moon’s mountains are being considered as potential living spaces for astronauts due to their protection from cosmic radiation and more manageable temperatures.
This comparison between past civilizations on Earth and future exploration on Mars highlights how our ancestors used natural resources to survive in harsh environments just like how we are planning to do so in space. Both cases demonstrate that with determination, ingenuity and resilience humans can adapt to any environment they encounter whether it’s on Earth or beyond it.
