Familiar with these
terms from homework on this green region of Saudi Arabia, I set out pursuing my
curiosity. The area with a 1000 small towers called "Qasaba" in
Arabic, left me clambering to click away at these, not- so- tall towers dotting
the mountainscape, pursuing them hoping to find one on any main road so I could
go closer and enter.
In over 2 hours'
rounds, I found one approachable. Clearly, they are shaped like a tower, four
slanting walls, narrowing at the top; a lookout window of sorts, and a drainage
system for the roof. A walk around showed no entry door into it at all! My mind
raced, inquisitiveness piqued, imagining myself having a discussion about it a
local Arabic elder in my broken Arabic sentences. Was fun.
Besides, while I did
see several on mountain tops, many were at road level too. So that beats the
watchtower concept.
I did read that it
could have been a granary...then why the window, and how did they get stuff
inside? Looking to friends and interested folks to add in any which way they
can; ideally, inputs from Arabic elders would be great.
Thanks.
