Some of the most vivid windows

Some of the most vivid windows into Saudi Arabia’s prehistoric past are the famous Desert Kites. Massive and remarkably ancient, they have fascinated archaeologists for nearly a century, and only in recent years are some of their secrets being revealed. 

Some archaeological discoveries are so huge in scale that they can only be recognised from the air – think of the Nazca Lines in Peru. 
In the 1920s, during the early days of aviation, pilots flying over the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia noticed mysterious shapes on the landscape below. 
The shapes comprised straight lines, angles, and circles, which could not have formed naturally – they must have been man-made, but by whom? And why?  Many of the enigmatic structures featured long pathways leading to walled enclosures.

 Around 1926, RAF pilot, Group Captain Lionel Rees, likened them to the tail and head of toy kites. The name stuck, and they became known as ‘Desert Kites’, but their purpose remained unclear. There was, however, no debate as to the fact that these structures were very, very old – pre-dating the Roman Empire, the pyramids and, in some cases, even St onehenge.  Over one thousand of these vast structures have been found on the lava field of Harrat Khaybar in North-western Saudi Arabia. 

Dating from the Neolithic period, around seven thousand years ago, many local people had no idea of their importance until the shapes were revealed by aerial and satellite photography. Several theories were put forward as to the purpose of desert kites. Some believed they were huge prehistoric fortresses, others that they were ancient ceremonial sites. Another theory maintained that they were cattle pens, used for corralling vast herds of domesticated animals. This appears to be closer to the truth, as most scholars now agree that the kites were most likely used as complex ‘mega traps’ - hunting animals rather than containing them.What they tell us about the sophistication of the ancient people who built them is helping to redefine our view of the prehistoric world, but it also raises many intriguing questions.

ANATOMY OF A KITE

Desert kites come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all display three basic elements: A pair of long, low stone walls sometimes referred to as ‘driving lines’, ‘guiding walls’ or ‘tails’ which converge at a walled enclosure flanked by several circular pits.

The full length of the ‘tails’ can range from a few hundred yards to over six kilometres, and the open space inside the enclosures can be many hectares wide.  It is believed they were used in hunting herds of migrating animals, most commonly the gazelle or ibex. If it was known that a particular herd moved from west to east, then the mouth of the trap would be built in its path.

The herd was funnelled between the walls of the ‘tail’ until they reached the enclosure. Once enclosed, they were driven into one of the pits where, if they were not killed by the fall, they were stabbed to death by spear-wielding hunters. Hundreds of animals could be killed this way in a short amount of time.

SOPHISTICATION OF THE KITE

The height of the stone walls which made up the kites was so low (around 80 cm) that the animals could conceivably have jumped over them. That the trap-builders knew they would not, shows that they had detailed knowledge of their prey. 

The builders must have known that gazelles naturally follow the route of any feature which runs in a straight line. They moved parallel to the walls because their instincts told them to, and did not try to jump over them because they did not see the need. 

Once inside the enclosure, the killing pits were often situated at the intersection of two neighbouring walls. The V shape this created further directed the animals in the direction the hunters wanted them to go. 
But this was not the enclosures, only sophisticated refinement. 

When threatened, gazelles tend to flee uphill, which is why at Khaybar many of the killing pits were built over the lip of steep inclines. The animals ran up the slope and did not see the pit on the other side until it was too late. Where no incline was present, some kites had small stone walls obscuring the opening of the pit over which the frightened animal would jump - with the same result.

This displays a remarkably sophisticated knowledge of animal behaviour. It also reinforces the belief that the gazelles were driven to their doom rather than just left to fall into the pits of their own accord.

EVOLUTION OF THE KITE

In addition to ‘traditional’ desert kites, the landscape of Khaybar also features some associated structures which are, at present, unique to the region and which may point towards how these ‘mega traps’ developed. Known as ‘open kites’ or ‘proto kites’ they appear to have performed the same function as the desert kites but in a less sophisticated way.

‘Open kites’ feature short ‘tails’ leading directly to killing pits without converging on an enclosure. Their openings do not seem to be aligned with herd migration, and they are generally smaller and less complex in their construction. They are also difficult to locate, even from the air, because their stonework is more collapsed and weathered, leading to speculation that they pre-date desert kites and are an example of how the structures evolved over time.

MYSTERIES OF THE KITE

Little is yet known about the Neolithic people who built the desert kites. Evidence suggests that they had advanced knowledge of landscape topography and animal behaviour, along with the resources and organization to complete such enormous undertakings.

Some scholars believe that the prevalence of mega traps reflected changes in herbivore migration patterns. As wild herds overgrazed one feeding ground and moved to another, so the hunters would follow them and build yet another trap in their path. The ecological impact of this over millennia can, at present, only be speculated, but it is possible that it contributed to the local extinction of some species. 

Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of the kites is why many of them were built at all.It has been said that they represent a half-way point between animal hunting and animal farming – from survival to subsistence -  but by the time it is believed the kites of Khaybar were constructed, the people who built them already had domesticated animals they used for meat and milk – so why go to all the trouble of building traps to hunt more?

One theory is that the kites provided the raw materials for non-consumable items such as clothing, tools, and jewellery by trapping animals that could not easily be domesticated. The bones, horns, sinew, and skin of wild gazelle, deer and oryx could all have been put to such uses. Farming herds of these animals would have been very difficult, so hunting them as they migrated across the landscape may have been the only solution.   

Some archaeologists suggest that the kites might have ultimately developed into serving more ceremonial purposes. Perhaps they provided meat for special feasts or became ritual/social venues for communal hunts.

LEGACY OF THE KITE

The discovery of the desert kites was a pioneering moment in the development of aerial archaeology. Many of the valuable archaeological studies taking place in Saudi Arabia and beyond are being conducted using light aircraft, helicopters, unmanned drones, and satellite imagery. 

What these remarkable structures are revealing is the story of how nomadic hunters became sophisticated, settled societies that worked together to achieve common goals. It is hoped that ongoing studies will uncover more about the kites, the people who built them, and the mysterious prehistoric world of these early architects of the Arabian Peninsula. 

Simon Talbot    |   Date:20 Apr 2023

Simon Talbot
Simon Talbot is a writer, broadcaster and podcast host who has been sharing his enthusiasm for history and culture since 2007. His words have guided visitors around some of the most prestigious museums, art galleries and historic sites in the world and his voice has been heard on BBC radio. He lives in the East of England and likes castles.