Jabal Ithnayn East Col Kites (Twin Peaks Eastern Pass)
Ithnayn East Pass Kites · Twin Peaks Col Traps
PPNB Late to LN (7000–5500 BCE)·Ithnayn twin-cone pass trappers (Maitland–Kheshabiyeh fringe)·🇯🇴 Mafraq Governorate, Black Desert, Jabal Ithnayn (Twin Peaks) Eastern Col Pass — east side of twin hills, Jordan
About
About Jabal Ithnayn East Col Kites (Twin Peaks Eastern Pass)
Eastern col pass (740 m) between twin basalt cones of Jabal Ithnayn (‘Twin Peaks’) 28 km southeast of Wisad, Black Desert saddle 420 m wide. 6 kites straddle the single pass — the only break in basalt ridge 8 km long. Both cone slopes funnel naturally 900 m walls converging to two opposing pens (east-facing and west-facing) in col centre pen 20 m dual-pit. This is the only documented pass-located kite system in Harrat — ridge geography forces migration through col. Kite walls ascend cone slopes 38° with zigzag revetment to prevent wall collapse on scree. OSL 7500 BP. Associated with Safaitic carving ‘tbd’ at pass showing ibex drive. Threatened by basalt scree creep covering lower walls.
Why it mattersOnly documented ridge-col pass kite system in Harrat — topography forces migration through single 420 m break.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dual opposing pens — simultaneous vs sequential seasonal use
Theories
- 01Ridge col as obligate migration corridor — pass specialization
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 – 5500 BCE (OSL 7500 BP)
- Period
- PPNB Late to LN (7000–5500 BCE)
- Culture
- Ithnayn twin-cone pass trappers (Maitland–Kheshabiyeh fringe)
- Builders
- Twin Peaks pass trap builders
- Purpose
- Ridge col bottleneck trap straddling only 420 m break in 8 km basalt ridge — bidirectional pass funnel
- Abandoned
- c.5000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 2019 Ithnayn twin peaks drone pass survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
2019
Twin col 6 kites pass mapped
2020
OSL 7500 BP cone slope wall
1927
Maitland notes twin hills
On the ground
Structures & features
32.2800° N · 37.3500° E · 740 m · 2 mapped features
Col Dual Pen (20 m bidirectional)
desert kite20 m dual opposing pens in col centre for east/west migration
32.2810° N · 37.3510° ECone Slope Wall West Ascending (900 m)
earthwork900-m wall ascending 38° twin cone scree with zigzag revetment
32.2830° N · 37.3480° E
Gallery