Australian archaeologists have recently uncovered evidence of ancient life in lava tubes located beneath a basaltic plateau in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The 1.5-kilometer-long lava tube, known as Umm Jirsan, has yielded animal bones, stone tools, pottery, and petroglyphs dating back 7,000-10,000 years.
The discovery of the lava tube in Saudi Arabia sheds light on the region’s past when it was not always a dry desert but had lakes and lush vegetation that attracted people and animals from Africa. Despite the harsh desert climate, the lava tube remains cooler and protective, serving as a source of shade and water for farmers and shepherds in the area.
The potential use of lava tubes as living spaces for astronauts on the moon is being explored by scientists and engineers. Lava tunnels on the moon’s mountains are being considered due to their protection from cosmic radiation and more manageable temperatures compared to other surfaces on the moon’s surface. In the 2030s, a US base on the moon is set to be completed, with China also building its own base.