Harrat Khaybar

Ḥarrat Khaybar (Arabic: حَرَّة خَيْبَر‎) is a volcanic field located north of Medina in the Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. It covers approximately 12,000 km2. The most recent eruption occurred between 600 and 700 CE.

Harrat Khaybar حرة خيبر
Harrat Khaybar seen from the International Space Station (North to the right of the picture)
Highest point
Elevation2,093 m (6,867 ft)
Coordinates25°43′10″N 39°56′34″E
Geography
Harrat Khaybar حرة خيبر
Geology
Mountain typeVolcanic field
Last eruption650 CE ± 50 years

Researchers using satellite imagery have discovered evidence of man-made structures (for example, 25°40′38″N 39°57′52″E) which may date from 7,000 years ago or earlier in the lava fields.[1]

Umm Jirsan lava tube

Within the lava fiend is the Umm Jirsan lava tube, with a length of 1,481 metres (4,859 ft) in three sections including two pieces of collapsed roof. It is Saudi Arabia's longest lava tube system.[2] In August 2021, the analysis of many thousands of animal and human bones from the cave system revealed that Striped Hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) had used this as a den for around 7,000 years.[3]

See also

Sources
  1. Sean Martin (October 18, 2017). "GATES TO HELL? Hundreds of ancient structures found on edge of VOLCANOES in Saudi Arabia". Daily Express. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  2. Umm Jirsan: Arabia's Longest Lava Tube System, John Pint, Saudi Geological Syrvey, January 2021, accessed 2021-08-29
  3. Taphonomy of an excavated striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) den in Arabia: implications for paleoecology and prehistory, Stewart, M., Andrieux, E., Clark-Wilson, R. et al. Taphonomy of an excavated striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) den in Arabia: implications for paleoecology and prehistory. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 13, 139 (2021).


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