# More than 5,500 stone artifacts found on ancient Uruq al-Jalibah lake shore in Saudi Arabia

- Published: 2026-11-13 12:41 UTC
- Section: Science › Research
- Tags: Uruq al-Jalibah, Rub' al Khali desert, stone artifacts, poisoned points, Schimper's poison bush, ancient lake, early modern humans, hunting weapons
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-76f209d14fa64881c1469087_more_than_5/

**Some stone points from the Rub' al Khali desert carry residues linked to Acokanthera schimperi; the site is dated to about 125,000 years ago, from surface finds.**

![More than 5,500 stone artifacts found on ancient Uruq al-Jalibah lake shore in Saudi Arabia](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/f25a3808ade98432.webp)
*ua.news*

Archaeologists have found more than 5,500 stone artifacts in southern Saudi Arabia, ua.news reports. Among them are points bearing traces of substances associated with a poisonous plant. The finds come from the shore of the ancient lake of Uruq al-Jalibah in the Rub' al Khali desert, and the study was published in the journal Science [1].

## The ancient lake and its surroundings

The name of the area translates as "sand dunes of the watering place." Today it is a hot and extremely arid region with large sand dunes. In the past, a freshwater lake lay here, covering about 340 square kilometers and reaching depths of up to 29 meters [1].

Fossil remains indicate that hippos, buffalo, ostriches, camels, gazelles and oryx lived around the water. Palms, reeds, trees and shrubs also grew there. Scientists suggest that early modern humans used these resources for food and other needs [1].

## Points with traces of poison

Some of the stone points bear impact damage consistent with hunting large animals. Microscopic analysis also revealed traces of animal tissue near the tips. The tools lay where animal bones were concentrated, which, according to the authors, indicates that the shore was used for hunting and processing prey [1].

Several points contained chemical residues associated with Schimper's poison bush, Acokanthera schimperi. The plant is widespread in East and Central Africa and in the south of the Arabian Peninsula; historically, its extracts were used to poison spear and arrow tips. The authors believe the artifacts may be the oldest evidence of poison used in hunting weapons, but they did not establish how the poison was prepared or whether it was effective [1].

The scientists associate the age of the site with a period about 125,000 years ago and suggest that Homo sapiens may have used it, although no human remains were found there. Archaeologist Jeffrey Rose, who was not involved in the work, noted that all the stone artifacts were collected from the surface rather than from dated layers. Therefore, 125,000 years is the maximum possible age of the tools, not a conclusively established date [1].

## Sources

1. [ua.news](https://ua.news/en/dovkolo-svitu/u-saudivskii-araviyi-znaishli-vistria-z-mozhlivimi-slidami-otruti-live-science)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-76f209d14fa64881c1469087_more_than_5/