10 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

Researchers Say that Neanderthals Had the Same Hearing Capacity as Humans

1 March 2021

1 March 2021

Virtual reconstructions of Neanderthal ears show that had the same physical capacity for hearing as modern humans, and by inference...

Human Activity on Curaçao Began Centuries Earlier Than Previously Believed

28 March 2024

28 March 2024

New research co-led by Simon Fraser University and the National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM Foundation) in Curaçao extends the...

Ancient Rome’s city borders were discovered in a rare stone

17 July 2021

17 July 2021

Archaeologists unearthed a rare stone outlining ancient Rome’s city borders during excavations for a new sewage system. The stone comes...

Hunting tools Dating Back 1900 Years Found inside a Cave in Querétaro, Mexico

27 January 2024

27 January 2024

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) found hunting weapons dating back approximately 1,900 years in a...

Royal Shipwreck From 17th century Is discovered Off the Coast of England

11 June 2022

11 June 2022

Off the coast of England, a royal shipwreck has been unearthed. The Gloucester, one of the most renowned ships of...

Scientists have discovered an ancient cemetery of flying reptiles roaming the Atacama desert of Chile 100 million years ago

7 April 2022

7 April 2022

In Chile, an unusual cemetery has been discovered that contains the well-preserved remains of prehistoric flying reptiles that flew over...

In Turkey’s western Uşak province, 2,000-year-old statues have been unearthed

19 December 2021

19 December 2021

During the excavations in the ancient city of Blaundos in the Ulubey district of Uşak, two statues of 2000 years...

Ancient Library With Unparalleled Architecture Found in Stratonikeia, Marble City of Gladiators

24 June 2025

24 June 2025

An ancient marvel, unique in design and history, is being unearthed in the heart of southwest Türkiye. Archaeologists working in...

Archaeologists Discover Assyrian-Style Leather Armor 2,700 Years Old in China

11 December 2021

11 December 2021

The new research shows that the unique leather armor found in a horse rider’s tomb in Northwest China was made...

A prehistoric monument consisting of three round enclosures, one of which resembles a horseshoe, was discovered in France

7 April 2024

7 April 2024

Archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) unearthed an unusual, prehistoric monument in the shape of...

One of its kind, 1,500-year-old Roman ‘Lorica Squamata’ legion armor restored

19 June 2024

19 June 2024

The 1,500-year-old Roman ‘Lorica Squamata’ legion armor, the only known example in the world, found in the ancient city of...

Nearly intact 1,800-year-old bouquets of flowers found in Teotihuacan

14 August 2021

14 August 2021

In the ruined city of Teotihuacan, Mexico, at a depth of 18 meters, inside the tunnel under the pyramid of...

World’s Oldest Hand Stencil Art Discovered in Indonesia, Dating Back Nearly 70,000 Years

21 January 2026

21 January 2026

Deep inside a limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, faint red handprints sprayed onto rock walls nearly 70,000...

Bone tools for bleeding cows discovered in a 7,000-year-old cemetery in Sudan

24 March 2023

24 March 2023

During excavations in the Letti basin in northern Sudan, archaeologists have unearthed 7,000-year-old bone tools used to bleed cows. Explorers...

Restoration Complete: Athena Temple in Side Reopens to the Public

24 March 2025

24 March 2025

The Athena Temple, once overshadowed by the more prominent Temple of Apollo, has emerged as a significant historical and cultural...