Neolithic Antennae Tomb Dated to Over 4,000 Years Ago
The Western Sahara burial site provides a key chronological marker for Neolithic funerary practices in the region.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Geography
Archaeologists have dated a late Neolithic antennae tumulus tomb in Western Sahara to between 4,417 and 4,100 years ago. The discovery near Wadi Lawash el Telli confirms a specific timeline for funerary practices in the region during the late Neolithic period.
Why it matters
This dating effort establishes a clearer chronological baseline for Neolithic structures in Western Sahara. It provides tangible data on how ancient populations across the region utilized stone monuments for burial rites during this epoch.
Radiocarbon dating of bone mineral fragments provided the 4,417-to-4,100-year-old range, necessary after standard collagen tests failed in 2018. The structure itself spans 54.5 meters in total length, featuring a central 12.5 by 10-meter mound oriented at 102 degrees.
The players
CIRAM lab
A research laboratory specializing in carbon dating and chemical analysis of ancient biological materials.
The details
The antennae tumulus consists of a central mound constructed from stacked limestone slabs flanked by two long stone lines. Researchers excavated exactly half of the mound during the 2018 fieldwork to maintain structural integrity, revealing the skeleton of an individual aged between 25 and 35. Grave goods recovered from the site included four ring-shaped beads fashioned from ostrich eggshell, offering insights into the material culture of the era.
Timeline
4,417 to 4,100 years ago: Estimated timeframe of the tomb burial.
April 5 to 8, 2018: Excavation period of the archaeological site.
2018: Year initial collagen dating tests failed to provide results.
2025: Year mineral bone dating tests were performed at the CIRAM lab.
The Tech Race
This finding builds upon regional research established by the Sluguilla Lawash rock art site survey, which documented over 1,100 engraved rocks. It serves as a necessary chronological anchor for broader surveys covering the 27-kilometer wadi corridor.
The findings provide historians and archaeologists with a verified reference point for the late Neolithic period in Western Sahara. Researchers interested in the site can utilize these dates to refine existing regional chronologies.
The takeaway
This discovery validates the timeline for Neolithic funeral monuments in the region. Scientists should watch for future isotopic analyses of the site's recovered ostrich eggshell beads to further clarify local trade or dietary patterns.
Further reading
For broader context on regional landscape studies, see Geography.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Archaeology News Online Magazine.
