Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, unearthing the world’s oldest-known architectural plans dating back over 9,000 years. These ancient plans, engraved on stone slabs, depict detailed and precise designs of Stone Age hunting traps known as “kites.” The findings were recently published in the scientific journal PLOS One.
The kites, named for their distinctive shape, were used as Stone Age hunting tools to capture wild animals. The structures consisted of converging walls, ranging from a few hundred feet to over three miles in length, designed to drive animals towards a central corral surrounded by deep pits measuring more than 13 feet in depth. Over 6,000 such structures have been found across the Middle East and Asia, with the highest concentration in present-day Saudi Arabia, southern Syria, and eastern Jordan. Despite being first observed by pilots in the 1920s, there have been limited studies on these hunting traps.
In 2015, archaeologists discovered two engraved slabs in Saudi Arabia and Jordan that provided valuable insights into these ancient structures. In Jordan, near Jibal al-Khashabiyeh, a former settlement was found to house eight previously identified hunting kites. The engravings were found on a two-and-a-half-foot-long stone estimated to be approximately 7,000 years old. In Saudi Arabia’s Jebel az-Zilliyat region, a larger engraved stone measuring nearly 13 feet in length was discovered. This slab depicted two distinct kites located just 394 feet apart and was estimated to be around 8,000 years old.
The study conducted on these discoveries revealed that the shape, layout, and proportions of the engraved plans aligned with the remains of the kites found in the field. While the Jordanian kite was 425 times larger than its plan, the Saudi Arabian kite was represented at a scale of 1:175, making it 175 times larger than the engraving. The drawings on the slabs were surprisingly accurate and realistic, maintaining proper proportions and cardinal directions.
However, it is worth noting that the representation of the deep pits in the engravings did not adhere to scale, appearing as simple circles on the stones. Nevertheless, the construction of these kites stands as a testament to the remarkable spatial awareness and collective efforts of the ancient communities involved. During their time, these kites were among the largest structures built by humans and likely required extensive collaboration to successfully hunt a large number of animals.
The recent discoveries shed light on the ingenuity and advanced skills of our ancient ancestors. By studying these ancient architectural plans, researchers gain valuable insights into the past, enabling us to better understand the behaviors, technologies, and cooperative practices of Stone Age societies. This newfound knowledge contributes to our evolving understanding of human history and the fascinating complexities of early civilizations.
