Reassessing Rujm el-Hiri: Aerial imagery and stone circles in the proto-historic Southern Levant

TL;DR

This study shows that Rujm el-Hiri is part of a larger regional tradition of ancient stone structures in the Southern Levant, using satellite imagery and spatial analysis.

Contribution

The study identifies over 30 new stone structures near Rujm el-Hiri, revealing a regional architectural tradition previously unrecognized.

Findings

Over 30 new large circular stone structures were found within 25 km of Rujm el-Hiri.

Structures show consistent design and placement near water sources and within agro-pastoral networks.

Remote sensing reveals a complex and interconnected archaeological landscape in the Southern Levant.

Abstract

Rujm el-Hiri has long been considered one of the most enigmatic archaeological monuments in the Southern Levant. Variously interpreted as a funerary, ceremonial, or astronomical locale, it has been the centre of multiple studies spanning over more than 50 years. While traditionally viewed as an isolated protohistoric monument, our study reveals it as the most elaborate example of a widespread regional tradition of large, circular basalt stone structures. This study presents a comprehensive regional reassessment of these large circular stone structures in the basalt highlands surrounding Rujm el-Hiri, revealing over 30 previously undocumented examples within a 25 km radius. Utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery, geophysical modelling, and spatial analysis, we document a consistent architectural tradition characterized by concentric and radial basalt walls, often associated with dolmens, tumuli, and field systems. These structures exhibit similarities in design and landscape placement, frequently located near seasonal water sources and integrated within broader agro-pastoral land-use networks. Our findings challenge the view of Rujm el-Hiri as an isolated monument, instead situating it within a wider phenomenon of protohistoric monumental architecture in this region. This expanded dataset provides new perspectives on landscape organization and monumentality in the protohistoric southern Levant. The application of remote sensing techniques proves crucial in overcoming previous survey limitations, revealing a complex and interconnected archaeological landscape hitherto underappreciated.

Figures