Thousands of Tombs in Saudi Desert Spotted From Space

Live Science ^ | February 15, 2011 | Rebecca Kessler

[decimon]

Little is known about the archaeology of Saudi Arabia, as the government has historically forbid aerial photographs of the landscape and religious sensitivities have made access tricky. But Google Earth is changing that. Satellite images available via the Web-based 3-D map program show that large portions of the country hold a wealth of archaeological remains that predate Islam and may be several thousand years old.

Researchers recently discovered nearly 2,000 tombs by peering through one high-resolution "window" at a rocky lava field east of the city of Jeddah — all without having to set foot in the Saudi desert.

Judging by the sheer number of stone ruins identified in Saudi Arabia, as well as in other research in Jordan, there may well be a million such sites scattered throughout the Arabian Peninsula, said David Kennedy, an archaeologist at the University of Western Australia who led the study.

[decimon]

Via SunkenCiv, now heeding the call of Nyx.

[decimon]

Shifting sands ping.

[cripplecreek]

The fact that the tombs predate islam creates a problem due to the fact that islam wants to pretend that nothing predates islam. (Same reason the antiquities of Egypt are going to suffer on coming years)

[ckilmer]

they also have a lot of meteorite strewn fields there.

[gusty]

Also in Nevada, courtesy of Tony Spilotro

[AGreatPer]

Why don't I give a darn about that part of the world?
They have been there so long and look what they make. Rugs.
Brilliant people, not.

[cripplecreek]

They have been there so long and look what they make. Rugs.

LOL

[ConservativeChris]

“predate Islam” The author better be careful, saying those “inflammatory” things.
s/>

[RightGeek]

Uh Oh! Time for a fatwah!

[CollegeRepublican]

Lol.

[mamelukesabre]

heeding the call of Nyx.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

greek goddess of sleep?

[rockrr]

Indiana Jones would be so stoked right about now...

[AGreatPer]

With all that sand you would think they would be the greatest glass manufacturers in the world.
No, Pittsburgh Plate Glass has to do it.

Of course, it is a proven fact that different parts of the world have advanced more then others.
Some of it is because of genetics.

In short, some breeds are stupider than others.

I must sound like Hitler. But it is a fact.

[decimon]

heeding the call of Nyx.

greek goddess of sleep?

Apparently of the night. I didn't use a certain other god to avoid reference to a certain movie.

[mamelukesabre]

They invented algebra and the number zero...masters of horse and camel breeding...and archery. They may have invented stucco, but probably not. they may have perfected the modern use and cultivation of coffee and tobacco.

I think that pretty much covers it.

[aruanan]

They invented algebra and the number zero...

Well, they didn't do either of these, so that's two less. Both antedate Islam by at least 7 centuries.

[mamelukesabre]

So what are you trying to say? sunken is asleep...or visiting a cat house?

[goodnesswins]

"some breeds are stupider than others"......actually it's more likely caused by INBREEDING....

[thatdewd]

Maybe now we’ll finally get aerial/sat views of Jabal al Lawz.

[decimon]

So what are you trying to say? sunken is asleep...or visiting a cat house?

Sleepy.