![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFO6NMUXFRBSHOKD7QMMQ6JOZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba70393e834a7442f877c104956397d8397a07addc84e3f7975295e8c663a037&width=400&height=225)
Another ancient kite hunting trap in AlUla. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CMDXEHQTKBHOXEEDGXPIMYAP4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d2ce68f6f2b661d381afcf4c92a51bc50ec62b2e783ecaf0e79634524105bc0c&width=400&height=225)
Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla is comprehensively regenerating the area as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage. One of the centrepieces by 2035 will be the Cultural Oasis, shown here. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6R5XL2EQRFFYVKGDL5JP3X4QJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=21723cd02dafdd63c443374c1ee1a16f7d7fd28ad29ac0d8f8cc8a22869f960a&width=400&height=225)
An ancient ‘kite’ hunting trap in the sandstone of AlUla. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPXZDDDKK5EKFDEXACSHXKKIO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=44ba571f3afce8aa54c6553c1dbbab262d9270f7d28805083c86cb35e9951ac4&width=400&height=225)
Rebecca Repper and David Kennedy, both of the University of Western Australia, survey the Al Hamra region in eastern AlUla County for kites. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SEBLPAQYMFBVBDPPFM34RPY5ZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=da2f7eac125e5a835fe2fdbad9a7d8ae5240fae659a1caf20d9edae6d90315e0&width=400&height=225)
The variety of kite forms recorded on the Harrat 'Uwayrid volcanic lava field in AlUla. Photo: Rebecca Repper / Google Earth
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QL2UVLESYRAD5IKCP4S2BTPICU.jpg?smart=true&auth=32d46fb1c37fde2b31b9ab7fc51d77f054c2de2edd5f8b193d75976e241a59bd&width=400&height=225)
Stylised diagram of kites showing their key components. Photo: drawn by Rebecca Repper
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IPITF6IMSZEGJDD5CL5A7IZ3BE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7252930947aedbec7d4ad20867cc6b5aa9c149da5d7dae7f61b2c14160a3ae05&width=400&height=225)
Aerial view of a kite in the Khaybar area of north-west Saudi Arabia. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNAUEJWVTBFDDN75T5H6Q2LV4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd06c03258ebb843902bebffb75510f7c9c4a161c08fba6aa32775a19b4a44d9&width=400&height=225)
Another kite in the Khaybar area. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2CJKGYOJRH7ZCNPO3PANQCHEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c39eb41901a0fb2a0bf3c0e3dd23c3b16bd97df1307b49a2dffc3ef59f40ffe7&width=400&height=225)
Diagram of a ‘hatchet’ kite at Harrat 'Uwayrid shows the typical lopsided enclosure shape that extends alongside the apex of the guide walls, in this case, attached to the guide wall, ending in a single cell trap. Photo: drawn by Rebecca Repper
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MEZGG3OTERFL3ADDZMDETU55WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0f747ee071005540f695ae867776f86b3c59c551829e280d04104e1ce92994a&width=400&height=225)
Aerial view of a V-shaped kite on the eroded eastern edge of the Harrat ’Uwayrid. The guide walls of this kite curve and converge towards a cliff edge, at the bottom of which a collapsed enclosure can be seen which may have assisted in trapping the target prey. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFO6NMUXFRBSHOKD7QMMQ6JOZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba70393e834a7442f877c104956397d8397a07addc84e3f7975295e8c663a037&width=400&height=225)
Another ancient kite hunting trap in AlUla. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CMDXEHQTKBHOXEEDGXPIMYAP4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d2ce68f6f2b661d381afcf4c92a51bc50ec62b2e783ecaf0e79634524105bc0c&width=400&height=225)
Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla is comprehensively regenerating the area as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage. One of the centrepieces by 2035 will be the Cultural Oasis, shown here. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6R5XL2EQRFFYVKGDL5JP3X4QJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=21723cd02dafdd63c443374c1ee1a16f7d7fd28ad29ac0d8f8cc8a22869f960a&width=400&height=225)
An ancient ‘kite’ hunting trap in the sandstone of AlUla. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPXZDDDKK5EKFDEXACSHXKKIO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=44ba571f3afce8aa54c6553c1dbbab262d9270f7d28805083c86cb35e9951ac4&width=400&height=225)
Rebecca Repper and David Kennedy, both of the University of Western Australia, survey the Al Hamra region in eastern AlUla County for kites. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SEBLPAQYMFBVBDPPFM34RPY5ZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=da2f7eac125e5a835fe2fdbad9a7d8ae5240fae659a1caf20d9edae6d90315e0&width=400&height=225)
The variety of kite forms recorded on the Harrat 'Uwayrid volcanic lava field in AlUla. Photo: Rebecca Repper / Google Earth
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QL2UVLESYRAD5IKCP4S2BTPICU.jpg?smart=true&auth=32d46fb1c37fde2b31b9ab7fc51d77f054c2de2edd5f8b193d75976e241a59bd&width=400&height=225)
Stylised diagram of kites showing their key components. Photo: drawn by Rebecca Repper
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IPITF6IMSZEGJDD5CL5A7IZ3BE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7252930947aedbec7d4ad20867cc6b5aa9c149da5d7dae7f61b2c14160a3ae05&width=400&height=225)
Aerial view of a kite in the Khaybar area of north-west Saudi Arabia. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNAUEJWVTBFDDN75T5H6Q2LV4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd06c03258ebb843902bebffb75510f7c9c4a161c08fba6aa32775a19b4a44d9&width=400&height=225)
Another kite in the Khaybar area. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2CJKGYOJRH7ZCNPO3PANQCHEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c39eb41901a0fb2a0bf3c0e3dd23c3b16bd97df1307b49a2dffc3ef59f40ffe7&width=400&height=225)
Diagram of a ‘hatchet’ kite at Harrat 'Uwayrid shows the typical lopsided enclosure shape that extends alongside the apex of the guide walls, in this case, attached to the guide wall, ending in a single cell trap. Photo: drawn by Rebecca Repper
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MEZGG3OTERFL3ADDZMDETU55WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0f747ee071005540f695ae867776f86b3c59c551829e280d04104e1ce92994a&width=400&height=225)
Aerial view of a V-shaped kite on the eroded eastern edge of the Harrat ’Uwayrid. The guide walls of this kite curve and converge towards a cliff edge, at the bottom of which a collapsed enclosure can be seen which may have assisted in trapping the target prey. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFO6NMUXFRBSHOKD7QMMQ6JOZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba70393e834a7442f877c104956397d8397a07addc84e3f7975295e8c663a037&width=400&height=225)
Another ancient kite hunting trap in AlUla. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla
AlUla's research support 'transformative' in shedding new light on ancient kite structures
Lead archaeologist says multi-level approach uncovered new findings on ancient hunting method
![Mona Farag](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F1c9bd289-2354-4fda-b0bb-f0f7eecd3bc1.png?smart=true&auth=e40c0425e666422be850b751bdf1e5ae9e46fb4f69ac0ddfa62a8183914701ff&width=70&height=70)
Mona Farag
24 October, 2022
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