Archaeologists have discovered a massive Bronze Age defensive structure in Saudi Arabia surrounding the Khyber oasis in the northern part of the Arabian desert. The ruins of this structure, stretching for 14.5 kilometers, bear witness to one of the two largest known walled oases in the region.

Dating between 2250 BC and 1950, the structure is one of the oldest known walls of Khyber, known for its Islamic castle in the middle of a large valley. This oasis reportedly remained unexplored for a long time due to the extreme changes that have occurred in the desert landscape over the past four thousand years.

After the discovery of this oasis, researchers determined the original dimensions of the walls: approximately 14.5 kilometers long, 1.7 to 2.4 meters thick and 5 meters high.

At the height of their power, these massive walls covered an area of ​​approximately 1,100 hectares. The fortified city of Taima, with walls just 12 miles long, rivals Khybar in size, making the two largest walled oases in the region.

Researchers believe that Khyber, a massive walled oasis, was part of a network of similar fortified settlements in northwestern Arabia; This is evidence that expands our understanding of the social complexity and architectural legacy of the pre-Islamic period in the region.

According to the research, these walls, which have been in existence for several centuries, were probably built by the indigenous people who lived in the oasis and used the walls to delimit their lands. Therefore, this 4,000-year-old walled oasis of Khyber is an outstanding example of early fortified settlement. Source