Killer finds: New studies reveal deadly truth about AlUla’s ‘desert kite’ animal traps

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Sponsored by the Royal Commission for AlUla, the studies reveal fascinating evidence about the innovative and collaborative methods local people used thousands of years ago to hunt. (Supplied)
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Updated 24 October 2022
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Killer finds: New studies reveal deadly truth about AlUla’s ‘desert kite’ animal traps

  • Ancient stone structures used to round up, dispatch prey animals
  • Studies ‘expand on our earlier discoveries of the Neolithic period,’ archaeologist says

JEDDAH: New research has shed fresh light on the origins and evolution of a series of ancient stone animal traps, known as desert kites, in AlUla.

Sponsored by the Royal Commission for AlUla, the studies reveal fascinating evidence about the innovative and collaborative methods local people used thousands of years ago to hunt wild animals.

According to a report published by the Journal of Archaeological Science, the stone-built traps got their name from the pilots who flew over the region in the 1920s and saw a resemblance in their shape to a child’s kite with streamers.

According to Dr. Remy Crassard, an expert on desert kites, the traps are some of the largest structures of their era, with the oldest examples, in southern Jordan, dating back to 7000 B.C.

He said that while the exact age of the recently discovered kites in northwest Arabia was still being calculated, they appeared to straddle the transition from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age (5000–2000 B.C.).

Crassard — who is affiliated with France’s National Center for Scientific Research and a co-director of the Khaybar Longue Durée Archaeological Project, which is sponsored by the RCU and its strategic partner Afalula (the French agency for the development of AlUla) — estimates there to be about 6,500 kites in the region, up from 700 to 800 known sites 20 years ago, and the number is rising.

During their research in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Armenia and Kazakhstan, Crassard and his team determined that the kites were specifically used for hunting wild animals, rather than keeping livestock.

The development of the massive traps had had a spectacular impact on the landscape, he said, as they would have forced migratory animals, like gazelles, to change their routes and could even have been responsible for the extinction of some species.

In Saudi Arabia, research conducted by a team from the University of Western Australia and sponsored by the RCU found 207 kites in AlUla and the neighboring extinct volcano area of Harrat Uwayrid.

Most kites in the region are formed of low stone walls designed to funnel prey animals toward a trap, such as a pit or precipice. While they come in different shapes, the ones found by the Australian team, led by Rebecca Repper, were mostly V-shaped.

The driving lines of the AlUla kites are about 200 meters in length, but similar constructions in other places stretch for kilometers. Researchers say their placement suggests the hunters had a keen understanding of the animals’ movements.

Dr. Rebecca Foote, director of archaeology and cultural heritage research at the RCU, said the studies added to the growing understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the people of northwest Arabia.

“The recent studies expand on our earlier discoveries of the Neolithic period in the region, including the construction of large-scale ritual structures,” she said.

“Under the sponsorship of the RCU, and as we embark on the autumn season, we look forward to many more insightful findings in cooperation with international teams from Saudi Arabia, France, Australia, Germany and other countries.”

The collaborations are part of the RCU’s plan to create a global archaeological research and conservation hub in AlUla. At the heart of this is the Kingdoms Institute, which is located amid the ruins of the ancient North Arabian Kingdom of Dadan and dedicated to the study of the history and prehistory of the Arabian Peninsula.

Dr. Ingrid Périssé Valéro, director of archaeology and heritage at Afalula, said the newly found kites in AlUla and Khaybar opened up important perspectives on their origins and development, which marked a milestone in the history of human evolution and mankind’s relationship with the natural environment.


Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Updated 10 June 2025
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Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

  • Forum hosts global leaders and conflict mediators
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet foreign officials

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday to take part in the Oslo Forum.

The annual event, organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland, hosts global leaders and conflict mediators.

Prince Faisal will meet foreign officials to strengthen relations with the Kingdom and discuss various regional and international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

Updated 10 June 2025
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What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

  • Worshippers take to social media to share profound experiences with loved ones
  • Posting online becomes a way to process the weight of Hajj for many

RIYADH: For many pilgrims, the spiritual journey of Hajj does not end when they leave the holy sites. It continues — quietly, intentionally — in the days and weeks that follow.

Across Saudi Arabia, young pilgrims are using social media to process the weight of Hajj and share the experience with loved ones.

Noor Ahmad, 21, did not plan to post during her pilgrimage. But after she returned, the urge to share came naturally.

After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments. But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?

Noor Ahmad

“After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments,” she said. “But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?”

She described how people responded in varied ways. “Those who had gone before felt nostalgic and started sharing their own stories. Others — those who hadn’t been yet — expressed their longing. It became this moment of connection.”

For Noor, the decision to post was not about aesthetics. “It’s a monumental event. Maybe I could inspire someone who’s hesitant to go. Maybe they’ll see what I saw — and want to experience it for themselves.

“It was my way of saying thank you”

Shatha Al-Jadaan, 25, took a different approach to sharing, after taking a digital detox.

I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.

Shatha Al-Jadaan

“During Hajj, I decided to partially fast from social media. I used only the essentials,” she said. “After I returned, I posted a thread to my close friends explaining where I’d been and shared some of the most meaningful moments.”

The response was full of prayers and warmth. “People were kind, supportive, and curious. But what mattered most to me was that I used the thread to say thank you — to the organizers, to the volunteers, and to Allah.”

She spoke about how she found value in using digital platforms to document something greater than herself.

“I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.”

Salem Al-Khudair, 28, recorded a voice note to his family group chat while performing the rites.

“I just couldn’t find the words to write. So I recorded myself speaking right after standing in Arafat. I sent it to my family WhatsApp group. My mom was emotional. My dad said, ‘May God accept from you.’ That was enough.”

In an age of curated content, Hajj posts tend to stand out for their sincerity. Pilgrims often strip away the filters, metaphors and trend-driven formats, and just speak from the heart.

Noura Al-Dosari, 23, uploaded a private Instagram story highlight with no captions. “Just visuals. No filters. No hashtags,” she said. “It wasn’t for followers. It was for me. For reflection. A digital bookmark of who I became.”

Some write long captions, others simply post a photo of their ihram folded neatly back into a drawer.

But all of them carry a silent message: I went. I came back different.

Many pilgrims use their posts to recall moments of physical hardship that brought emotional breakthroughs — the heat, the long walks, the brief but powerful connections with strangers.

Others use it to highlight the seamless organization of the pilgrimage as a reminder of how far the experience has evolved.

Amani Al-Saad, 26, used X to share a short story about a volunteer who helped her carry her bag in Muzdalifah. “She didn’t speak much, but she smiled at me and said, ‘This is what we’re here for.’ That stuck with me. I wrote about it as a reminder to myself — that sometimes the smallest moments hold the most meaning.”

While digital connections are increasingly common, most pilgrims emphasize that the real processing happens offline — in quiet conversations with family, in their prayer rooms, or on long drives home.

“I didn’t post to perform,” said Al-Jadaan. “I posted to remember.”

 


National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

Updated 10 June 2025
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National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

  • The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems

MADINAH: The National Water Co. has confirmed it is operationally ready for the post-Hajj season.

The company said it would distribute more than 630,000 cubic meters of potable water daily to pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque and throughout Madinah and said its readiness built on ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims and visitors.

The plan involves more than 1,200 employees, including technical, administrative and engineering staff, working to provide water and environmental services.

The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Water will be supplied daily during the post-Hajj season through continuous pumping to the central area and religious sites. Chemical and biological tests will be conducted to ensure compliance with water quality standards.

The company said its smart operation system continues to manage and monitor Madinah’s water network, overseeing water pressure and quality in pipelines and reservoirs.

 


Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

Updated 10 June 2025
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Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

  • Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions

RIYADH: The Film Commission announced its membership in the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, a step aimed at supporting its work in audiovisual archiving.

The association includes members from 70 countries and represents institutions that preserve materials such as visual content, musical works, historical and literary recordings, and oral histories.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, this membership supports the commission’s efforts to preserve Saudi Arabia’s audiovisual heritage.

Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions.

The move also reflects the commission’s aim to adopt recognized practices and modern technologies in film archiving, the SPA reported.

Cooperation with association members will provide access to innovations in audiovisual preservation and contribute to efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Founded in 1969 in Amsterdam, the association promotes collaboration among institutions focused on audiovisual preservation.

It hosts an annual conference for sharing expertise in preservation, restoration, digitization, intellectual property, and public access to archival materials.

 


French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

Updated 10 June 2025
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French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

  • The exhibition was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding

RIYADH: The Didier Aaron Gallery in New York, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia, is hosting an art exhibition by French architect Jean-Pierre Heim.

The exhibition showcases AlUla’s culture and heritage through a collection of sketches depicting Saudi Arabia’s archaeological landmarks.

It runs until June 20, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

A special event at the exhibition featured Heim speaking about his visits to AlUla and the surrounding region.

It was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding.

He also noted the value of such exhibitions in sharing aspects of Saudi heritage with a wider audience.

Heim described his design approach as being informed by local culture and geography, emphasizing the integration of architecture with environment, history, and traditions.

The exhibition includes selected architectural drawings by Heim, inspired by his travels to more than 80 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Greece, and China.