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The Use of Desert Kites as Hunting Mega-Traps: Functional Evidence and Potential Impacts on Socioeconomic and Ecological Spheres

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Journal of World Prehistory Aims and scope

Abstract

For almost a century there has been debate on the functional interpretation of desert kites. These archaeological structures have been interpreted as constructions for animal hunting or domestication purposes, sometimes for both, but with little conclusive evidence. Here, we present new evidence from a large-scale research programme. This unprecedented programme of archaeological excavations and geomatics explorations shows the unequivocal and probably exclusive function of kites as hunting traps. Considering their gigantic size, as well as the significant energy and organization required to build them, these types of traps are called mega-traps. Our research is based on five different field studies in Armenia, Jordan, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, as well as on satellite imagery interpretation across the global distribution area of kites throughout the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia. This hunting interpretation raises questions about the transformation of the landscape by human groups and the consequent anthropogenic impacts on local ecological equilibrium during different periods of the Holocene. Finally, the role of trapping in the hunting strategies of prehistoric, protohistoric and historic human groups is addressed.

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Availability of Data and Material

Available upon request at CNRS, Université Lyon, UMR 5133, Archéorient, Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée, Lyon, France.

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Acknowledgements

The GLOBALKITES project was financed by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, France (No. ANR-12-JSH3-0004-01). The South Eastern Badia Archaeological Project (SEBAP; research at Jibal al-Khashabiyeh) is funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al-Hussein bin Talal University and the CNRS National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences. Fieldwork was authorised and facilitated, and sometimes co-financed, by numerous institutions and individuals: in Armenia, we thank the Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Christine Chataigner (director of ‘Mission Caucase’ archaeological project), Arkadi Karakhanyan, Iren Kalantaryan, Pavel Avetisyan; in Jordan, we thank the Department of Antiquities, Monther Jamhawi, Aktham Oweidi, Mohammad Tarawneh (co-director of SEBAP), Diaa Albukaai, Emmanuel Baudouin, Kathleen Dupinay, Benjamin Mutin, Juan Antonio Sánchez Priego, Shadi Shabo, Ségolène Vandevelde; in Kazakhstan, we thank the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Zhaken Taimagambetov, Renato Sala, Jean-Marc Deom and Constantin Plakhov; in Saudi Arabia, we thank the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the directors of the Dumat al-Jandal archaeological project Guillaume Charloux and Romolo Loreto, as well as Charly Poliakoff and Yamandú Hilbert. For discussions, assistance and/or collaboration, we thank Marie-Laure Chambrade, Cheryl Makarewicz, Sabrina Sholts, and Emmanuelle Vila.

Funding

The Globalkites project was financed by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France; Grant No. ANR-12-JSH3-0004-01). The South Eastern Badia Archaeological Project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France), Al-Hussein bin Talal University (Jordan) and the CNRS National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (France).

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  1. CNRS, UMR 5133, Archéorient, Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée, Université Lyon, Lyon, France

    Rémy Crassard, Wael Abu-Azizeh, Olivier Barge, Jwana Chahoud & Emmanuelle Régagnon

  2. Institut Français du Proche-Orient (Ifpo), MEAE, CNRS, USR 3135, East-Jerusalem, Palestinian territories

    Wael Abu-Azizeh

  3. CNRS, Minist Culture, LAMPEA, UMR 7269, MMSH, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, France

    Jacques Élie Brochier

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Crassard, R., Abu-Azizeh, W., Barge, O. et al. The Use of Desert Kites as Hunting Mega-Traps: Functional Evidence and Potential Impacts on Socioeconomic and Ecological Spheres. J World Prehist 35, 1–44 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-022-09165-z

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