In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Tayma Oasis, there’s a rock formation that’s been puzzling people for millennia. The Al Naslaa rock is made up of two massive sandstone blocks, each about 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide, split cleanly down the middle by a gap that’s barely as wide as a pencil. It looks so precise that it’s hard to believe it’s natural.
Scientists think the rock split due to natural geological processes. The area around Tayma Oasis is prone to tectonic shifts, which could have caused the rock to fracture. Another theory is that the rock’s split could be the result of a joint, a natural fracture in the rock that occurs without significant displacement. Over thousands of years, wind, rain, and sand could have eroded the rock, smoothing out the fissure.
The pedestals on which the rock blocks sit are also a result of natural weathering. These “mushroom rocks” are common in desert landscapes where winds blow faster close to the ground than higher up, eroding the rock in a way that creates these distinctive pedestals. The Al Naslaa rock is also adorned with ancient petroglyphs depicting Arabian horses, ibexes, and human figures, estimated to be around 4,000 years old.
There aren’t any specific astrological alignments associated with the Al Naslaa rock. Its formation is tied to the geological history of the region, with no evidence suggesting any particular astrological significance.
Despite the scientific explanations, some people speculate that the rock could have been split by advanced technology or created by an ancient civilization. However, there’s no credible evidence to support these claims.
