Ancient ‘desert kites’ reveal early mass hunting in western Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Densely scattered across the volcanic fields (harrats) in western Saudi Arabia, the mysterious stone structures known as “desert kites” were once used as mass animal traps and attest to ancient environmental adaptation and engineering prowess.

According to the Saudi Geological Survey, these structures are located in Harrat Khaybar and date back over 5,000 years to the Early Bronze Age, making them among the oldest and largest stone monuments in the Arabian Peninsula.

Their primary purpose was likely to funnel wild animals,…