New Data about the “Desert Kites”

Abstract

Several ancient structures known as "desert kites" have recently been discovered in Sinai. The purpose of these structures is stil a matter of controversy, and the present study may point to a solution. We shall first describe these "kites" and then discuss the general problem of their significance. A. THE NEW "DESERT KITES" IN SINAIFour previously unknown "desert kites" have been discovered III Sinai over the last few years.1) The first "kite" was found near Darb el-Ghazza III north Sinai, about 1 km. south of Jebel CArayifen-Naqa, at the edge of the plateau intersected by the tributaries of Wadi el-Mizeira c (map ref. 09629722).1 The apex of the "kite" points northwest, its walls are 305 and 210 m. long. The opening measures approximately 280 m. (Fig. 1). The "kite" is built on ground which slopes slightly southwards from the site of a low hill. The north wall rises towards the summit of this hill. The two long walls converge and almost meet at the edge of the plain, which ends abruptly in an 8 m. deep escarpment. At the foot of the escarpment, there is an enclosure, which measures about 7 X 8 m. and is surrounded by a wall which has been preserved to a height of 1.10 m. (PI. 25:1). Courses of stones can no longer be distinguished in the approximately 0.50 m. high walls of the "kite".2) The second "kite" was discovered in 1971 near Qa "en-Naqb in the Eilat region! It is situated northwest of Jebel el-I:Iamra, in a more or less level plain, intersected by numerous wadis (map ref. 12388893) (Had. Arch. 39:31). The apex of the "kite" points northwest, its walls are 123 and 133 m. long, its opening measures approximately 120 m. (Fig. 2). The two walls nearly meet at the edge of a small wadi. On the wadi-bed, which is about 1.50 m. below the level of the long walls, there is an oval structure measuring 6 X 8 m. and comprising of a well-built wall, which has been preserved to a height of 1 m. (PI. 2~:2). Courses of stones can be distinguished at the ends of the long walls, near the oval structure, but the greater part of the walls is built of vertically placed stone slabs, such as can be fo.und in the neighbourhood. There is a filling of smaller stones between the slabs. The height of the walls does not extend 0.50 m.This "kite" was discovered in 1970 by Zeev Shal:J.am, who was subsequently killed in a car accident. This article is dedicated to his memory.The "kite" was discovered by U. Avner and H. Panet of Eilat. I wish to express my thanks to U. Avner for supplying many details for the plan of this "kite".

Desert kites in the Negev desert and northeast Sinai: Their function, chronology and ecology

“…Avner (1972), Mendelssohn (1974) and Meshel (1974) were the first to account for the observed differences between kites in eastern Jordan and those in the Negev and northeastern Sinai, based on the ecology and ethology of the prey species trapped. They suggested that the large and dense kite complexes identified in the deserts of Syria and Jordan were constructed along migration routes to exploit the enormous numbers of migrating Persian goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa).…”

“…These installations were first identified by RAF pilots flying over the eastern desert of Jordan after the 1st World War who coined the term 'desert kites' due to their shape as seen from the air (Maitland, 1927;Rees, 1929). To date, kites are known from the desert regions of Jordan (Betts and Helms, 1986;Betts, 1998;Helms, 1981;Helms and Betts, 1987), Syria (Castel et al, 2005;Kennedy and Freeman, 1995;van Berg et al, 2004), Saudi Arabia (Adams et al, 1977: 35-36;Ryckmans, 1976), Israel and the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt (Avner, 1972;Meshel, 1974Meshel, , 2000Perevolotsky and Baharav, 1991).…”

“…Research on the southern Sinai desert kites has focused on their association with pasture areas (Perevolotsky and Baharav, 1991). Despite several publications on kites of the southern Negev desert (Israel) and northeast Sinai (Egypt) (Avner, 1972;Avni, 1994;Haiman, 1986;Meshel, 1974Meshel, , 2000 they have not been studied in detail. New investigations are currently in progress on several Negev kites, but only preliminary results are available (Bar-Oz et al, 2009).…”

“…In the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt), some 50 such structures are known, concentrated in the south, as well as four in the northeast (Haiman, 1986;Meshel, 1974Meshel, , 2000. Research on the southern Sinai desert kites has focused on their association with pasture areas (Perevolotsky and Baharav, 1991).…”

“…In the early 1970s, following the discovery of desert kites in the southern Negev and northeast Sinai, two researchers argued for a return to the hunting trap theory (Avner, 1972;Meshel, 1974). They based themselves on archaeological data, animal ethology as well as on the vivid, eye-witness accounts of Aharoni (1946: 31-33), Burckhardt (1831: 220-221) and Musil (1928a: 26-27), that described hunting of Persian goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) using such installations.…”