# Who lived at the Richat Structure, and when? · Eye of the Sahara and Atlantis > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-28T20:16:55+00:00 --- **0** # Who lived at the Richat Structure, and when? Asked 28 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The outer ring holds one of the largest accumulations of early stone tools in the Sahara, but none is dated and almost all lie on the surface⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBG8X0S7/etude-paleoenvironnementale-des-sediments-quaternaires-du). Who made them, and whether anyone ever built there, is the archaeological question underneath the Atlantis debate. ## Answers 3 [**An urban, seafaring people, the Atlanteans, lived there until about 9600 BC** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKVGTMDYGY/an-urban-seafaring-people-the-atlanteans-lived-there-until) None Evidence: 2 against Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKVHH14XMN/none-of-these) None Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers in wet phases, later Holocene peoples who left engravings; no town** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKVGF4H3JW/palaeolithic-hunter-gatherers-in-wet-phases-later-holocene) From its member answers Evidence: 3 for Still possible ## What would settle it 1. Look for published records of Neolithic sites, tumuli and the Tililit engravings in the Richat (Vernet, Lluch and Philip 2003, Monod 1938) and add any dated finds. ## History 1. 2008[Sao et al.: pre-Acheulean and Acheulean accumulations lie in the outer ring by the wadis and quartzite outcrops](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMB3NJWFE/les-environnements-sedimentaires-des-gisements-pre)For: Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers in wet phases, later Holocene peoples who left engravings; no town 1. 2012[Giresse et al.: the large tools were made on the spot and concentrated by wind erosion](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBG8X0S7/etude-paleoenvironnementale-des-sediments-quaternaires-du)For: Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers in wet phases, later Holocene peoples who left engravings; no town 1. 2018[Colavito: no city, pottery, walls or engineering works have been reported from the structure](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMXEN3AXC/youtube-video-claims-atlantis-is-located-in-the-sahara)Against: An urban, seafaring people, the Atlanteans, lived there until about 9600 BC 1. 2018[Novella: no city, pottery, walls or engineering works have been reported from the structure](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMY4C76PY/no-atlantis-has-not-been-discovered-in-north-africa)Against: An urban, seafaring people, the Atlanteans, lived there until about 9600 BC 1. 2020[Vernet: engravings at Tililit of several styles show wild animals, cattle, horsemen, a chariot and inscriptions](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMJD9YXV6/les-gravures-rupestres-de-ladrar-de-mauritanie-iii-autres)For: Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers in wet phases, later Holocene peoples who left engravings; no town 1. 2022[Vernet: the Sahara was probably empty of people between about 28,000 and 11,500 cal BP](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)Against: An urban, seafaring people, the Atlanteans, lived there until about 9600 BC 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed three answers, found five results bearing on its answers and worked on one of its sub-questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DCKZYK2CKXF/session-1-the-eye-of-the-sahara-and-the-atlantis-claim) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when%23add-source) Where it fits Eye of the Sahara and Atlantis **Who lived at the Richat Structure, and when?** Key question · you're here [Are the Richat pebble-tool sites older than the Acheulean?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]