Universität zu Köln

Groucutt, Huw S. and Carleton, W. Christopher (2021). Mass-kill hunting and Late Quaternary ecology: New insights into the 'desert kite' phenomenon in Arabia. J. Archaeol. Sci.-Rep., 37. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. ISSN 2352-409X

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Abstract

Over 6,000 'desert kites'-mass-kill stone hunting traps constructed at various times over the last 10,000 years-have been identified from northern Arabia to western central Asia. It has been proposed that kites had a significant impact on animal demography, leading to changes in ecology and human societies. While there has been considerable discussion regarding the function and chronology of kites, their spatial distribution is poorly understood. Here we report over 300 desert kites from several areas of the Arabian Peninsula, including similar to 500 km further south than previously suggested. Using satellite imagery, we studied their super-imposition revealing an extended chronology of kite-construction, including multiple phases of rebuilding in some cases and kites built relatively recently. This shows that desert kites were significantly more spatially and temporally widespread than previously believed, suggesting that they played a role in transforming Late Quaternary ecosystems and offering insights into the behaviour of human societies in challenging environments.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Groucutt, Huw S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Carleton, W. Christopher UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-580507
DOI:	10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102995
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Archaeol. Sci.-Rep.
Volume:	37
Date:	2021
Publisher:	ELSEVIER
Place of Publication:	AMSTERDAM
ISSN:	2352-409X
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SEASONAL USE; GAZELLE; ARMENIA; JORDAN; CONSTRUCTION; CLIMATE; CORRALS; EAST Multiple languages Archaeology Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/58050