Wadi al-Qattafi Qa' al-Qattafi Playa Margin Kites (Playa North Shore Kite Line Extension)
Qa' Playa Kites South Extension · Playa Margin Kites
Late Neolithic–Early Chalcolithic (6000–4500 BCE)·Late Neolithic pastoralists·🇯🇴 Mafraq Governorate, Qa' al-Qattafi playa northern margin eastern shore (playa 10 km2), Jordan
About
About Wadi al-Qattafi Qa' al-Qattafi Playa Margin Kites (Playa North Shore Kite Line Extension)
Northern–eastern margin of Qa' al-Qattafi playa (660 m), the 10 km2 playa terminus of Wadi al-Qattafi system (Toms 2021). Four kites with 200–380 m walls to 15–20 m sub-circular pens (2–3 pits) on playa-margin silts; walls on firm playa-edge hamada 15 cm above playa silts (inundation-safe). Playa cores show Early Holocene lake (8,500–6,000 BP) then playa; kites post-date lake, targeting animals drawn to residual water. Playa-edge hamada with dense hamada pavement; pits waterlogged after rains, preserving organic deposits (study by Jones 2021).
Why it mattersKey geoglyph illustrating Late Neolithic pastoralists hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Mafraq Governorate, Qa' al-Qattafi playa northern margin eastern shore (playa 10 km2).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Playa lake vs playa kite chronology
Theories
- 01Residual water attraction hunting
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.6000–4500 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic–Early Chalcolithic (6000–4500 BCE)
- Culture
- Late Neolithic pastoralists
- Purpose
- Playa margin kites at Holocene lake edge
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.6000–4500 BCE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
32.0800° N · 37.2800° E · 660 m · 3 mapped features
Playa Margin Kite PM-2 Pen (20 m)
desert kite20-m sub-circular pen with 3 pits
32.0810° N · 37.2810° EPlaya Guide Wall (380 m)
earthwork380-m wall on playa-edge hamada
32.0790° N · 37.2790° EOrganic Pit Fill Core
landscapeWaterlogged organic deposit in pit
32.0820° N · 37.2820° E