Archaeological Insights
The Bronze Age town of al-Natah, located in the Khaybar Oasis of , reveals a transitional stage of urbanization in northern Arabia, dating back to 2400–1500 BCE with an estimated population of 500.
Excavations uncovered a 9-mile-long defensive wall, a necropolis, and residential areas, indicating a complex societal structure and a shift from nomadic to settled life.
Comparative Urbanization
Unlike the rapid urbanization in and , the al-Natah site suggests a slower, more modest pace of urban development in the , characterized by small fortified towns.
The presence of administrative buildings and a network of ramparts around al-Natah hints at a unique form of local governance and social organization, distinct from contemporary urban centers in larger regions.