Azraq Oasis Kite Corridor
Azraq Shallow Lake Kites · Qa Azraq Kites
Late PPN to Late Neolithic·PPN / Azraq pastoralists·🇯🇴 Zarqa Governorate, Azraq Wetland Reserve margin, Jordan
About
About Azraq Oasis Kite Corridor
Eighteen kites encircling the Azraq Qa (salt flat) shoreline, exploiting the seasonal wetland's attraction for migratory gazelle and waterfowl. Walls are lower (0.2–0.3 m) and built of lacustrine limestone rather than basalt, with broad 100–180 m arms forming arcs toward the marsh. The corridor demonstrates wetland-margin kite adaptation contemporary with basalt harra kites (7000–5000 BCE) but using lacustrine stone. Faunal remains include gazelle, onager and duck; the location implies coordinated drives toward water.
Why it mattersOnly lacustrine/wetland kite adaptation, showing ecological diversity of kite technology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Waterfowl vs mammal target
Theories
- 01Oasis trap for mixed game
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.7000 – 5000 BCE
- Period
- Late PPN to Late Neolithic
- Culture
- PPN / Azraq pastoralists
- Builders
- Azraq oasis Neolithic groups
- Purpose
- Wetland-margin game interception
- Abandoned
- c.4000 BCE oasis desiccation
- Rediscovered
- 2014 RSCN–CBRL joint survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
7000 BCE
Initial lakeside trap construction
2014
RSCN maps lakeside kites
On the ground
Structures & features
31.8300° N · 36.8200° E · 505 m · 2 mapped features
Lakeside Arc Kite Q-4
earthwork180-m arc wall toward Qa
31.8310° N · 36.8210° EMarsh Pit M-2
geoglyph20-m limestone enclosure at marsh edge
31.8280° N · 36.8190° E
Gallery