Evidence of pigeon breeding during the Iron Age: New archaeological discovery in Ain Al-Beida, Amman
A salvage excavation at the site of Ain Al-Beida (northeast of Amman) conducted in July 2011 revealed an Ammonite facility used for breeding pigeons. The significance of the information derived from this excavation lies in shedding more light on the history of the Ammonites and their economic activities in their capital, Rabbath Ammon.
This discovery raises important questions about similar facilities that are tentatively dated to later periods than the Iron Age. However, it is certain that pigeon breeding on a large scale is a longstanding human activity, whether for using these birds as a food source, a means of communication, sacrificial offerings, or for use in divination.