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Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of ancient standing stone circles in Saudi Arabia, some of which are around 7,000 years old.
Knewz.com has learned that the discovery was made at the archaeological site in the volcanic field of Harrat al-Uwairidh, located in Northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The team of archaeologists discovered a total of 345 of these stone structures via aerial surveys, of which they have singled out eight structures that experts believe could have originated in the Neolithic era.
These stone circles are around 13 to 26 feet in diameter and have at least one standing stone at the center.
The team of archaeologists working on the site wrote in a paper published in the journal Levant under the section 'The Journal of the Council for British Research' that these standing stone circles were "individual dwellings, constructed in concentrations of varying numbers with associated domestic installations, such as hearths."
These ancient stone circles served as the foundation for stone walls and at least one doorway.
Archaeologists believe that the roofs of these dwellings were likely made of either stone or organic materials.
"Most structures have at least one doorway, formed by two upright stone slabs positioned perpendicular to the exterior walls. A stone threshold was placed between these slabs, forming a step into the structure. The doorways are often blocked with smaller stones positioned across the threshold," read the paper published in Levant.
"A flat stone surface is often identified within the structure, abutting the walls, adjacent to doorways and/or the central stone. These surfaces may be interpreted as floors, but are generally incomplete, so are best described as work surfaces," the paper added.
"Although appearing precarious, the arrangement must have been fairly stable and functional when weight was placed on top of the stones to hold them in place."
The team of archaeologists mentioned that these structures are similar to the previously discovered Neolithic pastoral sites in eastern and southern Jordan.
The research into these structures revealed that they date back to the 6th to 5th millennia B.C., making them around 7,000 years old. Commenting on the significance of the discovery, the paper wrote:
"These structures provide evidence of ongoing occupation throughout the 6th and 5th millennia BCE, concurrent with a general florescence of human activity across north-west Arabia."
In addition to the structures, the archaeologists also found "faunal remains," or remains of animals, which offer an insight into the food habits of the ones who dwelled in these stone circle houses.
Bones found at the sites suggest that their diet included meat from domestic livestock as well as available wildlife.
The team of archaeologists also found an array of stone tools, made from the igneous rock basalt. The research noted that excavations at five of the ancient stone circles alone yielded nearly 500 pounds of stone tools and debris.
Furthermore, it was reported that the archaeologists also found a variety of seashells at these ancient sites believed to be from the Red Sea, around 75 miles west of the stone circles of Harrat al-Uwairidh.
The fact that seashells from so far away were found at these sites indicates "developing networks of trade and exchange, concurrent with mobility," according to the paper.