The so-called Mustatil (مستطيل) are Neolithic period monuments from Prehistoric Arabia, constructed out of sandstone walls, found premariliry concentrated in the northwestern regions of Khaybar and al-Ula in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The structures are named mustatil (Arabic: مستطيل, lit. 'rectangle', plural مُسْتَطِيلَات, mustaṭīlāt) for their shape.
The structures have basic layout, walls surrounding a long central courtyard, with a rubble platform at one end and entrances at the end opposite the platform. Some entrances are closed off with stones. Some of the sandstone blocks used in their construction weigh more than 500 kilograms.
The mustatils first came to the attention of researchers in the 1970s. Excavation of one mustatil funded by the Royal Commission for al-'Ula revealed a chamber at the center containing fragments of cattle skulls, but no remains from other parts of the animals; they are believed to be evidence of a previously unknown cattle cult.
Radiocarbon dating of the skulls and other organic material revealed that the mustatil, and maybe the others, was built between 5300–5000 BCE, during the Holocene Humid Period (African humid period), a time when the area was a grassland that went through frequent droughts. This would make the mustatils one of the oldest-known large-scale ritual landscapes in the world.
Found across a ritual landscape spanning roughly 200,000 square kilometers, more than 1,000 to 1,600 mustatils have been documented, clustered in groups of between two and nineteen. Their lengths vary widely—from as short as around 20 metres to more than 600 metres.
Mustatils consist of two robust end structures—designated “base” and “head”—linked by long, low parallel walls forming a courtyard. The “head” is usually a rubble platform of dry-stone masonry, occasionally containing internal niches or subterranean chambers, while the “base” may present an opening forming an entrance, sometimes sealed. Walls are composed of two stone faces—either cut or natural blocks—filled with rubble; some composed of blocks exceeding 500 kg. Though local materials were used, the largest mustatil near the Khaybar lava field extends beyond 525 metres. Construction appears labor-intensive; one estimate suggests upwards of 12,000 tons of basalt may have been moved for a single mustatil. Sites span diverse terrains—from wadi floors to slopes and flat plains—and show no consistent orientation pattern. Many are faintly visible on the surface, indicating potential for additional undiscovered structures.
Early systematic study began in 2017, revealing that mustatils were likely ritual sites rather than habitation or defensive enclosures—given the low height of walls and absence of domestic remains. Excavations near al-'Ula revealed a semi-subterranean chamber within the head platform, housing vertical standing stones (betyls), interpreted as sacred focal points, along with disarticulated remains—skulls, horns and teeth—from cattle, goats and gazelles. Intact horn sheaths suggest deliberate sacrificial deposition of selected high-value male animals.
Researchers propose that these structures served as pilgrimage or processional sites, integral to a cattle-centred cult. Repeated offerings suggest ongoing ritual use. Mustatils almost universally align toward water sources, signaling their placement in a broader environmental and spiritual landscape. Some evidence suggests later reuse of mustatils for human burials.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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