Wadi al-Qattafi Central Mesa Interfluve Kites (Mesas M-7–M-9 Interfluve)
Qattafi Central Interfluve · Mesas 7-9 Kites
PPNB–Late Neolithic (7000–5500 BCE)·Black Desert hunters·🇯🇴 Mafraq Governorate, Wadi al-Qattafi central interfluve between north and south arms (5 km north of Qa' al-Qattafi), Jordan
About
About Wadi al-Qattafi Central Mesa Interfluve Kites (Mesas M-7–M-9 Interfluve)
Interfluve plateau between north and south arms of Wadi al-Qattafi 5 km north of Qa' al-Qattafi playa (680 m). Seven kites on 35-m-high basalt mesa interfluve with walls draped over mesa edges (walls descend mesa slope 8°). Mesa caps 40–60 m above wadi beds as described by Hill et al 2020. Kites exploit interfluve constriction; walls 250–480 m funneling down mesa ramps to pens 18–26 m on lower pediment. Mesa-top tower tombs and ‘wheels’ adjacent. Playa playa 10 km2 below shows Holocene lake beds, suggesting Early Holocene wetter conditions when kites active.
Why it mattersKey geoglyph illustrating Black Desert hunters hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Mafraq Governorate, Wadi al-Qattafi central interfluve between north and south arms (5 km north of Qa' al-Qattafi).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Interfluve selection vs single-wadi kites
Theories
- 01Interfluve corralling between two wadi arms
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
- Period
- PPNB–Late Neolithic (7000–5500 BCE)
- Culture
- Black Desert hunters
- Purpose
- Interfluve kites between Qattafi wadi arms
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.7000–5500 BCE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
32.1500° N · 37.2500° E · 680 m · 4 mapped features
Interfluve Kite IQ-4 Pen (26 m)
desert kite26-m pen on pediment below mesa ramp
32.1510° N · 37.2510° EMesa-Edge Guide Wall (480 m)
earthwork480-m wall draping mesa edge
32.1490° N · 37.2490° EMesa Tower Tomb TT-9
megalithTower tomb adjacent on mesa top
32.1520° N · 37.2530° EQa' Playa Viewpoint
landscapeViewpoint to 10 km2 Qa' al-Qattafi playa
32.1480° N · 37.2470° E