| >I can't guess what valid use they might have had,other than religious. They seem pointless. I agreed there are for religious purposes but certainly not pointless for them. My hypothesis is that it is for their offerings to God, perhaps a fraction from the population fresh produced. In religion like Islam you need to set aside 2.5% of yearly income for charity from farming produces, for example. These rectangular structures namely Mustatil (rectangle) are very common (over 1000 of them) in built in ancient Arabia and they probably also being used for religious offerings [1]. The location are normally on top of the hills or elavated places similar to this. Fun facts, Abrahamic religions have common rectangular religious structures. The Kaaba in Mecca was originally in rectangular shape before taking the modern square footprint or iconic cube structure [2]. According to Islamic tradition it's believe to be the first house of worship ever being built in the world by Adam. It's later reconstructed and renovated by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The ancient Jews during Moses time also has rectangular portable worship structure so-called Tabernacle containing the infamous Ark of the Covenant [3]. Recently in 2025 a unique, 2,800-year-old First Temple-period cultic structure, featuring a 220-square-meter rectangular area, was discovered on the eastern slope of the City of David in Jerusalem. This site includes a ritual altar, a standing stone (masseba), a winepress, and an oil press, indicating significant ritual activity. [1] Mustatil: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustatil [2] Kaaba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba [3]Tabernacle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabernacle [4] Unique structure used for ritual practices during the time of the First Temple discovered in the City of David: https://www.gov.il/en/pages/first-temple-period-structure-us... |