Al-Magar
{{Short description|Prehistoric Arabian culture}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Al-Magar culture
| map_type = Saudi Arabia
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Map showing location of Al Magar site in Saudi Arabia
| relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|19.744213|44.620447|display=inline}}
| location = In the southwestern central part of Saudi Arabia
| region = Najd
| type = Ancient
| part_of = Central Arabia
| built = c. 9000 BC
| abandoned = c. 7000 BC
| epochs = Neolithic
| cultures =
}}
Al-Magar was an advanced prehistoric culture of the Neolithic whose epicenter lay in modern-day southwestern Najd in Saudi Arabia. Al-Magar is possibly one of the first cultures in the world where widespread domestication of animals occurred, particularly the horse, during the Neolithic period.
{{cite news|last1=Sylvia|first1=Smith|title=Desert finds challenge horse taming ideas|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21538969|accessdate=13 November 2016|agency=BBC|publisher=BBC|date=26 February 2013}}; {{cite news|last1=John|first1=Henzell|title=Carved in stone: were the Arabs the first to tame the horse?|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/carved-in-stone-were-the-arabs-the-first-to-tame-the-horse|accessdate=12 November 2016|agency=thenational|publisher=thenational|date=11 March 2013}}
Overview
{{Neolithic|257}}
The inhabitants of Al-Magar, who lived in stone houses built with dry masonry, were one of the first communities in the world to practice the art of agriculture and animal husbandry before climate changes in the region resulted in desertification.{{cite web|title=Al-Magar Civilization|url=https://www.scta.gov.sa/en/antiquities-museums/archeologicaldiscovery/pages/Al-Magar.aspx|website=scta|accessdate=12 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113115142/https://www.scta.gov.sa/en/antiquities-museums/archeologicaldiscovery/pages/Al-Magar.aspx|archive-date=13 November 2016|url-status=dead}}
Discoveries such as that of a large statue of a bridled horse indicates that the domestication of horses occurred about 9000 years ago in the Arabian peninsula, much earlier than in other parts of the world where domestication of the horse is thought to have occurred.
{{cite web|title=Al-Magar Civilization|url=https://www.scta.gov.sa/en/antiquities-museums/archeologicaldiscovery/pages/Al-Magar.aspx|website=scta|accessdate=12 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113115142/https://www.scta.gov.sa/en/antiquities-museums/archeologicaldiscovery/pages/Al-Magar.aspx|archive-date=13 November 2016|url-status=dead}} Radiocarbon dating of several objects discovered at Al-Magar indicate an age of about 9,000 years.{{cite web|url=http://paleolithic-neolithic.com/overview/al-magar/|title=Al-Magar Civilization Domestication of Horses in Saudi Arabia?|publisher=New Public Scientific Portal for: Paleolithic & Neolithic Rock Art Cave Paintings & Rock Engravings - Thomas Kummert|accessdate=18 June 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107202900/http://paleolithic-neolithic.com/overview/al-magar/|url-status=dead}}
In November 2017 hunting scenes showing images of what appears to be domesticated dogs resembling the Canaan dog and wearing leashes were discovered in Shuwaymis, an area about 370 km southwest of the city of Ḥaʼil. Dated at 8000 years before present, these are thought of as the earliest known depictions of dogs in the world.{{cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/these-may-be-world-s-first-images-dogs-and-they-re-wearing-leashes|title=These may be the world's first images of dogs—and they're wearing leashes|publisher= Science Magazine - David Grimm|accessdate=18 June 2018}}
File:قطع من أثار حضارة المقر.jpg|A large stone carving of an equidae - an animal belonging to the horse family. The piece itself, measuring 86 cms long by 18 cms thick and weighing more than 135kg., is a large sculptural fragment that appears to show the head, muzzle, shoulder and withers of a horse. The fact that other smaller, horse-like sculptures were found at Al-Magar, with similar bands over the shoulders, supports the idea that this culture may have been using horse tack to domesticate horses.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/middle_east/saudi_arabia_rock_art/al_magar.php |title=The rock art of Saudi Arabia|publisher= Bradshaw Foundation - Dr. Majeed Khan|accessdate=28 June 2021}}
File:صورة مكاشط حجرية من حضارة المقر (8100 قبل الميلاد).jpg|Stone scrapers dating back to 8100 BC.
File:Al-Magar - Saluki Artifact (المقر - سلوقي - قطعة أثرية).jpg|A stone sculpture of a dog that resembles the ancient native Saluki breed, dating back to 8100 BC.
References
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Category:Neolithic cultures of Asia