Latest news with #T.E.Lawrence
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Hidden city built 5,000 years ago by lost advanced civilization discovered underneath vast desert
For centuries, the Rub' al-Khali desert near Saudi Arabia and Dubai — known as the Empty Quarter — was dismissed as a lifeless sea of sand. But now, it's revealing an astonishing secret. In 2002, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, spotted unusual dune formations and a large black deposit while flying over the desert. That led to the discovery of Saruq Al-Hadid, an archaeological site rich in remnants of copper and iron smelting, which is now believed to be part of a 5,000-year-old civilization buried beneath the sands. Researchers have now found traces of this ancient society approximately 10 feet beneath the desert surface, hidden in plain sight and long overlooked due to the harsh environment and shifting dunes of the Empty Quarter. The Rub' al-Khali spans more than 250,000 square miles, making it the world's largest expanse of continuous sand. This discovery brings fresh life to the legend of a mythical city, believed to have been swallowed by the desert as punishment from the gods. Moreover, people believed the Empty Quarter desert hid a lost city called Ubar. According to legend, Ubar was buried beneath the sand after being destroyed — either by a natural disaster or, as some stories say, by a god punishing its wicked residents. T.E. Lawrence, the British officer and writer famous for his role in the Arab Revolt during World War I, called Ubar the 'Atlantis of the Sands.' He described it as a city 'of immeasurable wealth, destroyed by God for arrogance, swallowed forever in the sands of the Rub' al-Khali desert.' Now, cutting-edge science may be catching up to ancient myth. Researchers from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi employed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to penetrate the desert's surface, a tool that allows scientists to peer beneath the dunes without disturbing them. SAR works by sending out pulses of energy and measuring how much bounces back. In this case, archaeologists combined SAR data with high-resolution satellite images from WorldView-3 to scan beneath the desert sands at Saruq Al-Hadid. The radar detected buried structures and revealed clear signs of metal production, artifacts, and layers of animal bones in what archaeologists call midden deposits. By analyzing the radar data with advanced machine learning algorithms, researchers could identify patterns and shapes that pointed to ancient human activity. This method allowed them to uncover parts of the lost city. The findings suggest a complex, interconnected society that thrived in the region thousands of years ago. Researchers identified previously unknown settlements and roadways, which are strong indicators of long-term habitation and organized civilization. Layers at the site show bedrock, sand dunes, and patches of gypsum, with plenty of artifacts, ancient metal waste, and animal bones found throughout. SAR technology — when combined with AI — is increasingly becoming a game-changer for archaeological surveys, especially in environments where traditional excavation is nearly impossible. 'The case study of the Saruq Al-Hadid site illustrates the potential of these technologies to enhance archaeological surveys and contribute to heritage conservation efforts,' according to the research published in the journal. To validate the remote sensing data, researchers compared it with existing archaeological records and conducted field checks. The findings were accurate enough to prompt action from Dubai Culture, the government body overseeing the site. Excavations have now been approved in the newly identified areas. 'These regions remain largely unexplored, yet we know they hold cultural history,' Francis said. While little is currently known about the people who lived there 5,000 years ago, the discovery is already transforming our understanding of early civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian Desert has been inhabited since the early Pleistocene, with Neolithic and Paleolithic tools found in the southwest Rub' al-Khali. Bedouin nomads adapted to desert life, focusing on camel herding, date farming, and oral storytelling — cultural practices that echo the resilience of ancient desert societies. Despite its current hyper-arid conditions, the region experienced periods of increased humidity between 6,000 and 5,000 years ago, forming shallow lakes due to significant rainfall events. These lakes supported diverse ecosystems, including flora, fauna, plants and algae — all crucial clues in painting a fuller picture of life in what was once thought uninhabitable. With each pass of the radar and layer of sand peeled back by science, the Empty Quarter is proving it was never truly empty.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic Dorset site to feature on BBC series airing tonight
Clouds Hill will be in episode one, in the third series of the BBC's Hidden Treasures of the National Trust, airing at 9pm tonight. The hugely popular series shines a light on the experts and volunteers who look after the properties and collections in the National Trust's care. Returning to BBC Two and iPlayer, the series will feature other National Trust places in the south west – Dyrham Park, Corfe Castle and Lanhydrock. Scheduled for 9pm, the programme will explore the work going on behind the scenes to look after the incredible objects and properties in the charity's care. The series introduces viewers to the passionate staff and volunteers who care for some of the 500 places in the Trust's care, all narrated by actor and national treasure himself, Toby Jones. Clouds Hill, the small cottage used as a retreat by T.E. Lawrence or 'Lawrence of Arabia', has been cared for by the National Trust since 1937, following his tragic death 90 years ago this year. The episode explores whether a beautiful youth depicted in one of the paintings on display is in fact Lawrence. The painting by Henry Scott Tuke, an artist that Lawrence very much admired, hangs above the fireplace in Lawrence's tiny four-room cottage. Following the painting as it is cleaned and conserved, the episode also captures the detailed research undertaken by Senior National Curator for paintings, John Chu, as he tries to discover once and for all whether the man in the painting is indeed Lawrence. Visitor Operations & Experience Manager, Rachael White, says 'it is a beautiful painting and our team of volunteers have often wondered whether the painting had been altered to look like Lawrence, or whether it was actually based on him. It is great we now know – but you need to watch the episode to find out.' We would also like to thank the National Trust South Dorset Association supporter group and the T.E. Lawrence Society for supporting us with funding towards the conservation of the Tuke painting' Amanda Goodman, Commissioning Executive BBC Arts, says: 'It's a joy to bring another series of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust to life, showcasing all the intricate and specialist work going on behind the scenes. And to hear from the passionate staff and volunteers who help care for these incredible objects and buildings for us all to enjoy.' Tarnya Cooper, Conservation and Curation Director of The National Trust, says: 'Each of these programmes provides access inside our incredible historic interiors, gardens and parks for everyone to enjoy and offers truly inspiring moments of curiosity, wonder and joy. 'Our conservators and external specialists spend thousands of hours every year looking after the places and collections in our care. Hidden Treasures of the National Trust is a brilliant way of showcasing their expertise, patience and passion. 'This series has particularly highlighted the research that goes into understanding the meanings of our collections, their places in our lives and their national significance.' Clouds Hill is open to visitors on Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun until 30 October 2025 for visits by guided tour. Booking is recommended to join a guided tour. Tickets can be booked via the National Trust website or by phoning the booking line 0344 249 1895.
