Iron Age oasis: puzzling psycho-plants discovered in Qurayyah!

Iron Age oasis: puzzling psycho-plants discovered in Qurayyah!

Qurayyah, Saudi-Arabien - archaeologists have made significant discoveries on the ancient settlement Qurayyah in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where extensive research has been taking place since 2014. The cooperation between the University of Vienna and the Heritage Commission of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture has already produced the first results. These finds go back to the Neolithic period and show the development of Qurayyah into an impressive 300 hectare city oasis in the early bronze Age, which was surrounded by an eight -kilometer wall.

Qurayyah, located on the eastern slopes of the Hejaz mountains in the Tabuk region, is not only an archaeological site, but also a man-made water supply project. A dam, two kilometers south of the settlement, staunch river water to irrigate the area. The settlement, which existed until the Nabatean and Roman period, is known for its production facilities of painted ceramics and many pottery stoves, which on the 17th and 16th centuries BC. Chr.

psychoactive plants in the Iron Age

The most exciting finds include incense utensils that have been discovered in two houses. Particularly noteworthy is the detection of alkaloids of the steppe motto (Peganum Harmala) in residues on ceramic burning bowls. This plant, known for its psychoactive and healing properties, is used in different cultures as a fragrance and colored medium. In Iran, Harmal is used at celebrations such as weddings, while in Turkey and Iran, seed capsules should protect against the "evil eye". The results of these examinations represent the first chemical evidence of the earliest known burning of Harter worldwide.

The finds of incense utensils in living areas and not in graves or temples indicate that the steppe diamonds were mainly used for healing purposes and due to their psychoactive effects. These findings expand the understanding of early human societies in Qurayyah and their handling of plants and their possible uses.

context of ancient buildings in Arabia

Research in Saudi Arabia has made considerable progress in the past ten years, especially with the discovery of Mustatile buildings, large structures from stalled stones that are around 7000 years old. These monuments are among the oldest major buildings in the world and give insights into the survival of former shepherd peoples. The Mustatil buildings that occur in Northwest Saudi Arabia could be ritual sites for social activities, which reflects the social dynamics of the companies at that time.

The establishment of these monuments shows how people in a challenging environment such as North Arabia, which at that time was greener and had more precipitation to develop social structures to organize their way of life. The studies related to Qurayyah and the Mustateil buildings are crucial for understanding the complex social and cultural landscape of the region in antiquity.