400 mysterious stone 'gates' discovered in Saudi Arabia

Four hundred mysterious stone structures, dating back thousands of years, have been discovered in a remote part of Saudi Arabia. Archaeologists found the stone “gates” with the help of satellite imagery in an inhospitable area, reports the Forbes. According to the report, the stone structures, nicknamed "gates" due to their resemblance to field gates, are clustered around the volcanic region of Harrat Khaybar. However, the researchers have several unanswered questions regarding what these structures were used for, who built them, how old they are and their meaning. The stone structures are all associated with old lava domes, which are now inactive but were active during construction of these gates. The roughly built and low stone walls on these fields suggest that they were not used to retain cattle, the report said. Besides, some of the walls mimic an "I" shape while others are rectangular. The largest of the walls reach almost 1,700 feet long and it is not clear to who built these gates but they have been identified as one of the oldest and rare man-made structures in this remote part of the country. The stones were built during active volcanism and some of the walls are covered in newer flows, meaning the wall predates some of the volcanic flows. On the other hand, the research team also found other stone structures, including stone "kites" used to hunt animals and wheels. The team is likely to publish their research in the journal Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy. Later, an archaeological survey will be conducted in the area to allow the researchers to collect samples and inspect the gates more closely.