Archaeologists have discovered an impressive ancient fortification in the Khaybar Oasis in the northern Arabian Desert. The structure, at least 4,000 years old, had walls that stretched for more than 14 kilometers. Between 2250 and 1950 B.C., the period to which the discovery relates, there were several oases in the area, which were inhabited by a sedentary population.
No such walls have ever been found in Khaybar before, apart from the famous Islamic fortress in the center of the vast river valley.
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According to the researchers, the oasis has not attracted scientific interest for a long time because its landscape has changed dramatically over the past four millennia.
The team managed to determine the original size of the structure: length of about 14.5 km, thickness of 1.7-2.4 meters, height up to 5 meters. However, less than 50% of the original length has survived to our days.
