Scientists Discover Neolithic Grinding Tool in the Arabian Desert

warisan neolitik

"Scientists Discover Neolithic Grinding Tools in the Arabian Desert"

The discovery of an ancient grinding machine found in Jebel Oraf, Nefud Desert region, Saudi Arabia.

"Several years ago, research revealed that in the past, the dry regions in northern Saudi Arabia had greener and more fertile conditions, providing water resources and an environment that supported wildlife as well as early communities during the Neolithic period. However, the current drought situation in the area results in minimal preservation of organic materials, posing a challenge in reconstructing the lifestyle of Neolithic inhabitants."

"In a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, a research team from the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, the National Research Council of Italy, the Institute for Heritage Science (CNR ISPC), and University College London presents an analysis of the use of grinding tools found at Jebel Oraf, Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia."

"This finding provides a new understanding of a phase in human history that is still underexplored."

"This tool is used to process bones, pigments, and plants. Often, it is reused for various purposes before being damaged and placed in the fireplace."

"Photo: Ceri Shipton"

"In this recent study, the researchers used a high-power microscope to compare wear patterns on artifacts with testing equipment."

Scientists Discover Neolithic Grinding Tool in the Arabian Desert

"Photo: Ceri Shipton"

The translation of "Percobaan penggilingan" to English is "Milling experiment".

"In the experiment, the grinding of grains, plants, bones, or pigments produced distinctive macro and micro marks on the surface of the tools, including cracks, rounded edges of grains, flat areas, lines, and various polishings. Similar traces were also found on Neolithic grinders, facilitating the identification of the materials being processed by researchers."

"Although the remains of previous fauna reflect the presence of meat cooking in Jebel Oraf, wear analysis indicates that meat and bones were first processed with stone grinding tools, raising the possibility that bones were broken to access their marrow. Grinding tools were also used to process plants. Although there is no evidence of domesticated seeds in northern Saudi Arabia at this time, researchers state that wild plants were ground and possibly baked into simple bread."

"The fireplace where we found the very short-aged grinding tools, and people might have been very mobile, bread would have been a good and easy food to take away for them,"
"Maria Guagnin, researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology."

Source: Scitech Daily

Researchers also found evidence of pigment processing, which is believed to be related to Neolithic paintings.

Their findings indicate that the pigments were processed and ground in larger quantities than previously estimated, increasing the likelihood that there is more painted Neolithic rock art than can be seen from the few remaining panels.

"It is clear that grinding tools were very important for the Neolithic inhabitants of Jebel Oraf. Many were used intensively, and some even have holes in them indicating that they were moved."

"It means people carry heavy grinding tools with them, and its functionality is certainly an important element in daily life," said Giulio Lucarini from the National Research Council of Italy.

"Although rarely used in the analysis of archaeological materials from the Arabian Peninsula, such methods can provide crucial information about the manufacture, use, and recycling of grinding tools."
"This data can provide further understanding of the daily life, economy, and arts of the society that produces it."

"Source: Scitech Daily"

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