Abstract:Two of the authors (R. Arav on the left, S. Filin on the right) using the LiDAR scanner inside the head of the Samar West B kite. Photograph by D. Nadel. T he term "Desert Kites" is used in Near Eastern archaeology when addressing large game drives found solely in arid environments. There are several types of such features (
“…Relevant here is another point, namely the high‐resolution documentation of large sites in harsh environments. Currently, all researchers are using Google Earth images and aerial photography, but using Lidar scanners and photogrammetry for 3D‐model building and ensuing analyses will take us some further steps forwards (Arav et al ., ; in press).…”
The Armenian kites are the northernmost known kites in south-west Asia. In contrast to those in the deserts further south, their research has only recently begun. The Armenian kites are situated at high elevations, mostly between 900 and 1500 m above mean sea level, in steppic conditions where Artemisia is at present the dominant shrub on the landscape. In our ongoing project we excavated three V-shaped kites and one enclosure kite. The two kinds are similar in construction details, but they differ in size and location: the former run down into gullies, while the latter were placed on the plateau. Six OSL ages suggest terminal Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age construction dates, while geomorphological considerations and surface artefacts suggest earlier dates. A preliminary palynological study suggests a gradual increase in grazing-resistant vegetation since the mid-Holocene, probably reflecting human impact on the natural vegetation through the herding of grazing animals.
“…Relevant here is another point, namely the high‐resolution documentation of large sites in harsh environments. Currently, all researchers are using Google Earth images and aerial photography, but using Lidar scanners and photogrammetry for 3D‐model building and ensuing analyses will take us some further steps forwards (Arav et al ., ; in press).…”
The Armenian kites are the northernmost known kites in south-west Asia. In contrast to those in the deserts further south, their research has only recently begun. The Armenian kites are situated at high elevations, mostly between 900 and 1500 m above mean sea level, in steppic conditions where Artemisia is at present the dominant shrub on the landscape. In our ongoing project we excavated three V-shaped kites and one enclosure kite. The two kinds are similar in construction details, but they differ in size and location: the former run down into gullies, while the latter were placed on the plateau. Six OSL ages suggest terminal Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age construction dates, while geomorphological considerations and surface artefacts suggest earlier dates. A preliminary palynological study suggests a gradual increase in grazing-resistant vegetation since the mid-Holocene, probably reflecting human impact on the natural vegetation through the herding of grazing animals.
“…Examine the micro-topography and interpret the possible function of Keimoes 3, building on research into the strategic and micro-topographic settings of Northern Hemisphere kites (Bar-Oz et al . 2011; Arav et al 2014). Figure 1.Orthographic/aerial photograph of Keimoes 3 (figure by M. Lombard & M. Caruana).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Introduce the use of a combination of orthographic (aerial) photography and aerial lidar scanning data to record and describe Keimoes 3, as traditional survey and recording methods are ineffective for the documentation of kite sites (Arav et al 2014).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Located in the arid regions of the Levant/Middle East and Central Asia, these well-attested archaeological features are most often associated with gazelle hunting, although they may also have been used to trap other ungulates or for the management of domesticates (for a synthesis, see Crassard et al 2015). Desert kites are almost invisible from the ground due both to their large size and the fact that they are constructed using unmodifed local boulders and stones, often in rugged terrain (Arav et al 2014). Consequently, this category of site was first observed in the early twentieth century by pilots flying over the Levant (e.g.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Here, we aim to: Refine the relative age of the Keimoes kites. As with most Northern Hemisphere kite sites (Holzer et al 2010; Nadel et al 2010), the South African sites lack directly associated artefacts or faunal remains.Introduce the use of a combination of orthographic (aerial) photography and aerial lidar scanning data to record and describe Keimoes 3, as traditional survey and recording methods are ineffective for the documentation of kite sites (Arav et al 2014). Examine the micro-topography and interpret the possible function of Keimoes 3, building on research into the strategic and micro-topographic settings of Northern Hemisphere kites (Bar-Oz et al .…”
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