Posted on 04/06/2025 12:07:14 PM PDT by Red Badger
A recent study has uncovered the existence of ancient lakes, rivers, and a massive water-formed valley beneath Arabia’s vast desert.
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A recent study has uncovered a long-forgotten landscape hidden beneath the vast expanse of Arabia’s Empty Quarter—one of the driest and most desolate regions in the world today. The groundbreaking research, published in Communications Earth & Environment, reveals that the desert was once home to ancient lakes, rivers, and valleys, formed during periods of high rainfall between 11,000 and 5,500 years ago. This discovery sheds new light on the dramatic environmental shifts that occurred in the region during the late Quaternary period, particularly the so-called “Green Arabia” phase.
The research team, led by Dr. Abdallah Zaki and Professor Sébastien Castelltort of the University of Geneva, in collaboration with Professor Abdulkader Afifi of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Professor Michael Petraglia of Griffith University, documented the presence of a massive ancient lake and a large water-formed valley. This team of international scientists has provided crucial insight into how the region’s ecosystems once flourished due to the monsoonal rains brought from Africa.
The “Green Arabia” Period: A Land of Lakes and Rivers
The team’s findings paint a picture of a much wetter Arabia, with vast lakes and rivers replacing the arid landscape we see today. “Based on a series of ages, it appears the lake peaked about 9,000 years ago during a wet Green Arabia period that extended between 11,000 to 5,500 years ago,” said Dr. Abdallah Zaki, the study’s lead author. The ancient lake was not only massive but played a central role in shaping the region’s landscape. It was estimated to be 1,100 square meters in size and 42 meters deep, a stark contrast to the dry environment that defines the region now. The increased rainfall during this time turned the desert into a thriving ecosystem, making it one of the most significant climatic periods in the region’s history.
Distribution of palaeohydrological and geomorphic records, archaeological sites, modeled streams, major monsoon systems, and the study site in Arabia. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2025).
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However, the lake’s existence did not last forever. Professor Sébastien Castelltort explains that the lake eventually breached due to the increased rainfall, triggering a catastrophic flood that carved out a 150-kilometer-long valley in the desert floor. “Owing to increased rainfall, the lake eventually breached, causing a great flood and carving out a 150 km–long valley in the desert floor,” Castelltort added. This flood marked a dramatic shift in the landscape and serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly the environment can change.
From Oasis to Desert: The Changing Landscape of Arabia
The once-water-filled landscape provided fertile ground for the development of grasslands and savanna-like conditions, allowing hunting and gathering societies to thrive. This period marked a significant change for the populations in the region. “The formation of lake and riverine landscapes, together with grasslands and savanna conditions, would have led to the expansion of hunting and gathering groups and pastoral populations across what is now a dry and barren desert,” said Professor Michael Petraglia. Archaeological evidence found along these ancient water networks supports the theory that humans once inhabited the area, taking advantage of its once-abundant resources.
The impact of these climatic shifts was profound. By around 6,000 years ago, rainfall began to decline dramatically, signaling the end of the “Green Arabia” period. As the region became drier and more arid, populations were forced to migrate to more hospitable areas. This transition led to significant changes in the lifestyle of the region’s nomadic populations. “By 6,000 years ago, the Empty Quarter experienced a strong decline in rainfall, which would have created dry, arid conditions, forcing populations to move into more hospitable settings and changing the lifestyle of nomadic populations,” added Petraglia.
PinGGG!......................
So did the nomadic peoples of that era, drive evil internal combustion engine vehicles, and have evil coal fired power plants?
Sarcasm........
Global warming right there.
Thanks for yet another brain tickler.
The crocodiles that were ritually mummified in Egypt were always assumed to be Nile Crocodiles but recently it was discovered they were the type of croc that is still found in the few lakes at the southern end of the Sahara. I think the mummy crocs were from 3000 BC which proves that the Sahara was not all desert even at that date.
So I can easily believe that Arabia was the same.
Have the Saudis stopped destroying all their ancient sites? (the ones before MoHAMmed)
Genesis 2:10 NIV
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[e] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
The Earth’s climate changes constantly.
The saudis are developing a sun evaporator plant in the red sea which they say will desalinate sea water for $400@acre foot.
That’s impressive. Water from the colorado river to los angeles via the california aquaduct costs 948@acre foot untreated and about 1158 treated.
The world wide revolution begins when desalinated sea water for the deserts is cheap enough for agriculture. That’s around $300@acre foot for all foods except field crops like wheat and corn.
That zooms in on it.
This has been known for a very long time. McCauley mapped the findings of subsurface rivers across the Sahara via ground penetrating radar in 1982.
This is Arabia.................
Jeffrey Rose published back in 2010 that the late Pleistocene points found in southern Saudia Arabia were the same as in Ethiopia. Under the assumption that the polity was also the same, the description in Genesis 2 of the southern Saudi Peninsula as “Ethiopia” is in that respect entirely accurate.
The stalagmite that prompted that research was in Oman.
About 11,000 years ago the one mile deep ice in the Red River Valley-Fargo to Winnipeg was melting. I wonder if both occurrences are related.
It is difficult to image all these climate chances before President Trump was elected.
The article said the lake was massive.
It also said the lake was 1100 square meters which is 1.1 square km.
The see of Galilee is 168 square kilometers.
Is my math wrong?
Pishon flowed through Arabia, the dry lake bed is still visible for anyone looking for it.
I believe that is a typo.
That should be 1100 Square Kilometers..................
I believe that is a typo.
That should be 1100 Square Kilometers..................
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