Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dating a near eastern desert hunting trap (kite) using rock surface luminescence dating

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study reports the first radiometric dating applied to kite stone structure in Jordan using rock surface luminescence dating to three rock samples collected from the Jibal al-Gadiwiyt kite structure in the south east of Jordan. The sampling location, part of the kite enclosure, is in the form of a 125-cm-deep hole lined with long slabs at the base and with stacked cobbles above. The pit had been back-filled by natural sediment deposition after abandonment. Three rock samples were collected from the site, and three sediment samples were taken in close association with two of the rocks. Using quartz fast-component-dominated OSL signals, it proved possible to define a rock burial age of ~ 10 ka by examining the profile of luminescence with depth into the rock surfaces. Various light exposure events (including the most recent following archeological excavation) could also be identified. The direct radiometric dating of this kite argues for a construction ~ 10 ka ago, with no evidence for use beyond ~ 1 ka after building.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu-Azizeh W, Tarawneh M (2015) Out of the Harra: desert kites in Southeastern Jordan. New results from the South Eastern Badia Archaeological Project. Arab Archaeol Epigr 26(2):95–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abu-Azizeh W (2013) The South-Eastern Jordan’s chalcolithic―early bronze age pastoral nomadic complex: patterns of mobility and interaction. Paléorient 39(1):149–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aitken MJ (1985) Thermoluminescence dating. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • al Khasawneh S, Murray A, Abudanah F (2018) A first radiometric chronology for the Khatt Shebib megalithic structure in Jordan using the luminescence dating of rock surfaces. Quat Geochronol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2018.02.007

  • Bøtter-Jensen L, Andersen C, Duller G, Murray A (2003) Developments in radiation, stimulation and observation facilities in luminescence measurements. Radiat Meas 37:535–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barge O, Brochier J (2011) Visible from space, understood during the fieldwork: the example of “desert kites” in Armenia. Conference on cultural heritage and new technologies

  • Bar-Oz G, Nadel D (2013) Worldwide large-scale trapping and hunting of ungulates in past societies. Quat Int 297:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Oz G, Melinda Z, Hole F (2011) Role of mass-kill hunting strategies in the extirpation of Persian gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) in the northern Levant. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108(18):7345–7350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betts A (1998) The Harra and the Hamad, excavations and survey in Eastern Jordan. Archeological Monographs. Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield

    Google Scholar 

  • Burckhardt J (1831) Notes on the Bedouins and Wahabys, collected during his travels in the east. Colburn and Bently, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowden G (1999) Desert kites’: ethnography, archaeology and art. In: Humphrey H (ed) The Roman and Byzantine Near East: Some Recent Archaeological Research, vol 31. pp 107-136. Journal of Roman Archaeology: Supplementary Series

  • Freisleben T, Sohbati R, Murray A, Jain M, al Khasawneh S, Hvidt S, Jakobsen B (2015) Mathematical model quantifies multiple daylight exposure and burial events for rock surfaces using luminescence dating. Radiat Meas in press

  • Guérin G, Mercier N, Adamiec G (2011) Dose-rate conversion factors: update. Ancient TL 29(1):5–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen V, Murray A, Buylaert J, Yeoa E, Thomsen K (2015) A new irradiated quartz for beta source calibration. Radiat Meas 81:123–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harding GL (1953) The cairn of Hani. Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan 2:8–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Helms S, Betts A (1987) The desert “kites” of the Badiyat Esh-Sham and North Arabia. Paleorient 13(1):41–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holzer A, Avner U, Porat N, Kolska Horwitz LK (2010) Desert kites in the Negev desert and northeast Sinai: their function, chronology and ecology. J Arid Environ 74:806–817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyland R (2001) Arabia and the Arabs: from the Bronze Age to the coming of Islam. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempe S, Al- Malabeh A (2010) Kites and other Archaeological structures along the Eastern Rim of the Harrat (Lava Plain) of Jordan, signs of intensive usage in prehistoric time, a Google Earth Images study. Proceedings 14th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, 199–216

  • Kempe S, Al-Malabeh A (2012) Distribution, sizes, function and heritage importance of the Harrat Al Shaam desert kites: the largest prehistoric stoneworks of mankind? 15th international symposium on vucanospeleology, 57–66

  • Kennedy D, Bishop M (2011) Google Earth and the archaeology of Saudi Arabia. A case study from the Jeddah area. J Archaeol Sci 38(6):1284–1293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kook MH, Murray AS, Lapp T, Denby PH, Ankjærgaard C, Thomsen K et al (2011) A portable luminescence dating instrument. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 269(12):1370–1378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald M (2005) Of rock-art, ‘desert kites’ and mesayid. In: Sedov A, Smulyanskaya I (eds) Arabia Vitalis: Arabskij Vostok, Islam, drevnyaya, Araviya: Sbornik Naychnykh statej, posvyashchennyj 60-letiyu V.V. Naumkina. Moscow, Rossijskaya Akademiya Nauk, pp 332–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Maitland R (1927) The ‘works of the old man’ in Arabia. Antiquity 1:197–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray AS, Wintle AG (2000) Luminescence dating of quartz using an improved single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol. Radiat Meas 32:57–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray A, Marten R, Johnston A, Martin P (1987) Analysis for naturally occuring radionuclides at environmental concentrations by gamma spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 115(2):263–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Musil A (1928) The manners and customs of the Rwala Bedouins. In: Oriental Explorations and Studies, vol 6. American Geographical Society, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Prescott JR, Hutton JT (1994) Cosmic ray contributions to dose rates for luminescence and ESR dating: large depths and long-term variations. Radiat Meas 23:497–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees L (1929) The Transjordan desert. Antiquity 3(12):389–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohbati R, Murray A, Jain M, Buylaert J, Thomsen K (2011) Investigating the resetting of OSL signals in rock surfaces. Geochronometria 38:249–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohbati R, Murray A, Porat N, Mayank J, Avner U (2015) Age of a prehistoric “Rodedian” cult site constrained by sediment and rock surface luminescence dating techniques. Quat Geochronol 30:90–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Berg P, Vander Linden M, Picalause V, Lemaitre S, Cauwe N (2004) Desert-kites of the Hemma plateau (Hassake, Syria). Paléorient 89–99

  • Wright W (1895) An account of Palmyra and Zenobia with travels and adventures in Bashan and the desert. T. Nelson Edition, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeder M, Bar-Oz G, Rufolo S, Hole F (2013) New perspectives on the use of kites in mass-kills of Levantine gazelle: a view from northeastern Syria. Quat Int 297:110–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

    Sahar al Khasawneh

  2. Nordic Laboratory for Luminescence Dating, Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark

    Andrew Murray

  3. Centre for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark

    Kristina Thomsen

  4. Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée, Archéorient, Paris, France

    Wael AbuAzizeh

  5. AlHussein Bin Talal University, Petra, Jordan

    Mohammad Tarawneh

Authors
  1. Sahar al Khasawneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kristina Thomsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wael AbuAzizeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mohammad Tarawneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sahar al Khasawneh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

al Khasawneh, S., Murray, A., Thomsen, K. et al. Dating a near eastern desert hunting trap (kite) using rock surface luminescence dating. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 11, 2109–2119 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0661-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0661-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation