15 April 2026 The Future is the Product of the Past

200,000-year-old hand axe discovered in the northern part of Saudi Arabia

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) of Saudi Arabia has announced that archeological excavation teams at the Qurh site in AlUla Governorate have discovered a Paleolithic Age hand axe estimated to be more than 200,000 years old.

Qurh (AL-Mabiyat) is located near the village of Mugheira, some 20 Kilometers south of the modern town of AlUla.

Qurh, a website with historic significance from the early Islamic intervals, stands as one of many Arabian Peninsula’s essential city locales, concealing a wealth of secrets and techniques and historic treasures.

The archaeological site covers a large area and includes several open trenches from previous archaeological campaigns as well as several free-standing or exposed architectural elements such as sections of the city wall. The visible remains include a variety of architectural elements, the majority of which are made of earthen materials, as well as brick and stonework.

Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla

It is known as Deira (The town). Inside the town, there are ancient heritage buildings, mosques and markets, dating back to about 7 centuries. Its birth long pre-dates Islam but it prospered and flourished between 800 and 1100 CE.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



This ancient tool was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the heritage consultancy TEOS Heritage.

This strong instrument, crafted from comfortable basalt stone and measuring 51.3 cm in size, reveals traits indicative of chopping or chopping functions. Ongoing studies aim to precisely ascertain the tool’s intended use.

The ruins of Qurh. Photo: Wikipedia

The hand axe discovery is hailed as a transformative chapter in the history of humanity both within and beyond the Arabian Peninsula.

RCU at present oversees 11 specialized archaeological initiatives in AlUla and Khyber as a part of its dedication to unraveling the mysteries of historic occasions.

The commission attaches great importance to archeological discoveries as part of its AlUla comprehensive development plan to become a world-leading destination for natural and cultural heritage.

Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)

Related Articles

Archaeologists Uncover the Second-Largest Roman Olive Oil Mill in the Empire During Major Tunisian Excavation

19 November 2025

19 November 2025

A groundbreaking archaeological mission in Tunisia has revealed one of the most significant Roman industrial sites ever uncovered: the second-largest...

A cave in Argentina houses the oldest known pigment-based rock art in South America

15 February 2024

15 February 2024

An astounding collection of almost 900 rock paintings, dating back approximately 8,200 years, has been discovered in northwestern Argentina. The...

Archaeologists Discovered a New Pyramid Resembling Teotihuacán in Tikal

17 April 2021

17 April 2021

Researchers discovered a new pyramid complex in the Tikal in Guatemala. About 65 km south of El Mirador in the...

2500-year-old ship graffiti sheds light on the history of Izmir in western Turkey

9 March 2022

9 March 2022

In the Smyrna Agora, which is one of the largest ancient agora in the city center of the world and...

Decoding the First Farmers: A 12,000-Year-Old DNA Map Emerges from Çayönü in Türkiye

6 January 2026

6 January 2026

On a low rise overlooking the upper reaches of the Tigris River, archaeologists are revisiting one of humanity’s most transformative...

The Mysterious Stone Structure Overlooking Ani: A Hidden Monument Raising New Questions

14 November 2025

14 November 2025

A lone stone structure standing silently on a windswept hill near Kars has begun to draw growing curiosity. Rising from...

Archaeologists Discover 8600-year-old Bread at Çatalhöyük May be the Oldest Bread in the World

5 March 2024

5 March 2024

Archaeologists have discovered about 8,600-year-old bread at Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement in central Turkey. Çatalhöyük is noteworthy because it is...

Millefiori Glass Plateques From the 5th Century AD Discovered in the Ancient Lycian City of Myra

9 September 2024

9 September 2024

One of the six leading cities of ancient Lycia and the birthplace of Santa Claus (or Sinterklaas in Dutch), the...

Rare Gold Coin from Reign of Byzantine Emperor Justin II Unearthed at Tuida Fortress in Sliven, Bulgaria

25 June 2025

25 June 2025

A rare gold coin dating back to the reign of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justin II (r. 565–578 CE) has...

Receding waters in Lake Van reveal rock-cut Urartian port

22 September 2022

22 September 2022

Located in the eastern province of Van in Turkey, the falling water level of Lake Van, with the decrease in...

An 8500-year-old wooden ladder remain was discovered at Çatalhöyük

12 April 2022

12 April 2022

Remains of the wooden ladder were discovered for the first time in Çatalhöyük, one of the best-preserved Neolithic settlements in...

A Roman bridge from the Republican era was discovered on Via Tiburtina

27 February 2022

27 February 2022

The remains of a rare Republican-era bridge have been discovered on the 12th kilometer of the Via Tiburtina, the ancient...

Collectors In The Prehistoric World Recycled Old Stone Tools To Preserve The Memory Of Their Ancestors

16 March 2022

16 March 2022

A first-of-its-kind study at Tel Aviv University asks what drove prehistoric humans to collect and recycle flint tools that had...

On the eastern shore of the Marmara Sea, off the coast of Yalova, a 1700-year-old Shipwreck was discovered

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

A 1700-year-old shipwreck was discovered during maritime police training dives in the province of Yalova, located on the east coast...

The Ramesseum’s ‘House of Life’ Reveals Ancient Egypt’s Educational Secrets!

6 April 2025

6 April 2025

A recent archaeological mission has unveiled groundbreaking findings at the Ramesseum, the grand mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II, located...