You'll be amazed how this ancient desert architecture feeds millions for free!

What are these tall buildings with hundreds of holes found all over the desert?
This unusual architecture can be found across many desert regions but what are they for? They look too narrow to house people and have so many holes? In this video we are going to find out what this curious design is for and I’ll give you a little hint, its connected to an ingenious way to survive in the desert....
These stunningly remarkable and unique looking buildings can be seen throughout The Middle East and North Africa in some of the most arid and hot deserts, they have been found in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and finally in Iran where historian say they originate.
So we are going to take a more in depth look at why they started out in Iran to understand what these curious structures are for. When these towers were said to have been invented, Iran was known as Persia and due to it unique geographical location it was one of the cradles of civilization.
It is the 18th most populous country in the world with a population of approximately 82 million people. In terms of total land area, its the 2nd largest country in the Middle East and 17th largest in the world, covering 636,372 square miles. The country borders the Caspian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.
At first glance its often mistaken as a completely arid country but in fact its climate and geography is extremely diverse, only about 22% of its land area is desert. Compared with its neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia with (95% desert), Turkmenistan with (80% desert) and Iraq with (40% desert).
The country boasts range lands, forests, including rain forests, wetlands and even glaciers however the country has no major rivers and streams with the only navigable river being the 520-mile long Karun.
The country also boasts curiously interesting ancient architecture such as wind towers which create the effect of air conditioning without electricity called Bâdgir, they also have these huge domes known as Yakhchāl to store and even make ice.
Both of which we have covered in previous videos, so today we are going to look at another ingenious architectural design that is so useful and integral to survival in this countries deserts.
Can you guest what it is yet? Keep watching to the end to find out!
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[@desireehelms8012]

Awesome nature way of providing what is needed

[@Youcanttouchmyhandle]

Thank you for sharing historical culture Leaf for Life 👍👌

[@michko7979]

Oldelst evidence of advanced farming can be located in Central-Afraca where today the Sahara desert lies about 14.000 to 18.000 years ago according to recent discoverys

[@burtlangoustine1]

Fake Thumnail. Your deception was successful. I came to you because of this. Once though. Never again. Bye Leaf of Life

[@kathleennorton7913]

Are the pure white birds pigeons or doves? We don't have pure white pigions around here.

[@jamesmcguire5312]

I am constantly amazed at how the ancient technologies provide solutions to life that we tend not to utilize.

[@stephanelanglois4401]

And we believe we are smart….😂…I agree with you

[@chuckfarley567]

Nothing new....under the sun

[@casalido6639]

I believe that the reason why we no longer use alot of the old technologies is because they don't scale so well. Imagine using this method to get fertilizers to produce food for a city of millions... It's not gonna be so easy! Much like they found solutions for the problems at their time, modern solutions solve modern problems.

[@patrick-bu3eq]

well said@@casalido6639

[@alexanderkrishnadevaraya7719]

Really sir. ❤

[@luisjorge153]

So much knowledge hidden in ancient cultures, that we tend to underestimate in technocratic western societies. Thank you very much!

[@LeafofLifeWorld]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!

[@Kaczyfunny]

And then they dare to call ancient people primitive... Peeps tend to believe if the were able to time travell they would be kings with their modern knowledge... they would be the tolerated fool speeking nonsense under their nose, living on donations. Like the ones in the film Life of Brian. They knowledge were practical, based on observations and experiments. If you build such a bird house, or a wind mill or else you will understand during the process how it works. Peeps just cant imagine this today.

[@pedrolopes3542]

Speak for yourself. We have many ingenious people inventing and discovering new technologies and technics all the time.

[@russelllotan1361]

Aww blame the west of course do forget that in the west we fight to end slavery

[@cowgirljane3316]

I lived in Iran from 1974-1979. The architecture was amazing. I enjoyed living there. So much history, wonderful people.

[@raidzeromatt]

Yes, they really like their stones don't they

[@gazwa-e-islam2716]

But they were naive about the politico-criminal organisation islam masquerading as a religion.

[@ZodyZody]

And this is the very first time in my sixty odd years that I have even seen a picture of these amazing structures!

[@stizelswik3694]

me too! interesting huh?! If it weren't for the roof (damage they do) of my house, and having a very small yard, I would build one for the garden!!!

[@TheOneZenith]

I really wish modern society didn't toss out traditional designs and ideas. There is so much value in passive systems like this. It's heartbreaking to lose such ancient technology.

[@margitwes6495]

I've seen these in picture and assumed they were grain silos. What a genius idea,thank you Iran! Instead of killing pigeons we should build them homes and honor them for providing us with natural fertilizer instead of all those chemicals.

[@pinballrobbie]

One thing comes to mind is what would the pigeons be eating? the crops that their guano is fertilizing perhaps more so in the west I think.

[@stizelswik3694]

yea, but then the government would probably try to ban them saying it's "miss-information", like what they're trying to do to those doctors who are TRULY trying to help people get healed naturally - "putting the drug industry at risk" (the greedy bastards)...

[@Wyi-the-rogue]

Actually they prefer food people drop. Like cheez its

[@Amen-Magi]

They most use cow and sheep they most use for gun powder

[@lagomorphia9]

and they eat a lot of weed seeds which is handy.

[@HM-hc9um]

Thank you Iran for your so many inventions, discoveries and your amazingly beautiful culture. May God continue to bless you! ❤️

[@peem1244]

As the pigeons are a part of urban living, I think it would be great to have to have dovecotes as part of the urban environment, providing safe roosting as well as harvesting the guano for fertilising the soil. Thanks for another great video.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

Tesla's best friend and lover was a pigeon.

[@Cj-yw8cs]

And the birds can become sandwiches! Providing that not all birds become sandwiches at once

[@OdysseusMDA]

In the middle East and Greece, pigeons were used for meat, that is they were farmed on such towers and provided much needed protein well as feathers and guano.

[@LeafofLifeWorld]

I totally agree!

[@lydialaxy4841]

Please how do the pigeons get killed?

[@brockjazz8838]

Took too long to get to the point.

[@user-BONEZSTALEY]

I've never heard of that it's awesome. I knew that there are easier ways. Over the years we have become so complicated to a life that used to be so easy.

[@aminamangera4871]

Brilliant story. Well done. Hope all of Africa and global south use these to get away from nasty chemicals and help farmers and food production.

[@debbiehenri345]

I visited a 'dove-cote' (as we call them in the UK) in Devonshire. It was empty of birds, and was simply a historic piece of architecture. So typical to hear that here, in the West, they could only be built by the 'rich,' and that the guano was used in the manufacture of gunpowder. Considering what lengths the British Empire has taken to get its hands on much-needed fertiliser for its hard-pressed agriculture, and how the price of fertiliser has gone up since the invasion of The Ukraine, you would think that some enterprising person would turn to these ancient ways in order to make a business of this 'free' resource. It's unfortunate that Bird Flu is currently prevalent in my area right now, and has been for some time, otherwise it's a very tempting business idea. Pigeons galore where I live.

[@TMAC-pl3fc]

You may be on to something

[@DJDAVEKHEN]

If there's anything causing ill birds, it's probably some kind of mold, pesticide, parasite, or pollutant.

[@98Zai]

I think your last sentence is the main reason it's not used a lot in Europe, nevermind bird flu - bird poo has a bunch of nasty things. Don't touch it. Same with bat guano, which we have also utilized in the past but stopped because chemical fertilizer is much more cost effective. It's likely that in the past the things they grew (melons, cucumbers) were luxury food items for the rich, which is probably why it was taxed. Honestly I don't know much about it, but if it were cost effective then it would get used in a capitalistic system like ours.

[@98Zai]

Now, if you want to talk "free resource" have you heard about night soil?? See, that's an untapped resource of pretty insane proportion...

[@pasdeville]

you mean human shit ?@@98Zai

[@owlan99]

Europe has dovecotes since at least the Norman age (the romans kept pigeons too) and they also used them for fertiliser in Europe.

[@jamesmalott7851]

Dovecotes is how civilized people survived the dark ages in most parts of the world, not just Persia. Pigeons are mans oldest feathered friend. As they have been with people for most of recorded history..

[@drpk6514]

As was explained in the video it has been used in many places but it was first invented in Iran.

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

The qenet water tunnel irrigation system was also started in countries like Iran/Persia. Tunnels were maintained by villages from mountains to plains where the water was protected from dehydration and irrigated the fields. In places like Afghanistan these tunnels were destroyed by the Taliban and other Invaders when it was conquered so it could be subjugated.

[@paulyule7413]

the origin of the qanats/aflaj seems not be uniquely Persian. Early examples are documented in the UAE. But there is little research in Iran. The origin may actually be there.

[@kathrynadamu4933]

This is truly amazing architecture that immense benefits for man and pigeons! Thanks for sharing!

[@Amadeus8484]

Magpie: "Its ours now bitches!"

[@WonderfullyMade_Lex]

Ingenious!! I applaud people who work in harmony with nature.

[@stevebowman421]

Brilliantly simple, have to find the freezer one. Maybe I’ll build a dovecote here to gather guano for the farm, plenty of doves.

[@merrylmarsh9037]

Brilliant!!!!! We are fortunate to have your channel to re teach us how we ought to be tuning back into these genius methods.

[@davemeise2192]

Very cool. I had no idea what those buildings were for. We should do that here in Canada to give pigeons a place to roost and also provide us with agricultural fertilizer.

[@johnnyhorton5984]

Fascinating. Thank you!

[@LeafofLifeWorld]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@donaldwilliams4019]

My first thought was it looked like a bird hotel ... lol Some people down here have Martin houses, and they have to have holes of a certain size or they won't use them. These look like a giant Martin Hotels

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

Two-thirds of the video before we are told that they are actually dovecotes. Believe it or not, they were known in the UK long before the 16th century, in fact they date back to just after the Norman invasion. The oldest complete example in the UK dates to 1326.

[@donchonealyotheoneal5456]

It's amazing what you can do with a little Ingenuity and necessity wow I knew about the ice buildings but I don't believe I ever heard about the pigeon coops

[@vickiwalker3486]

Oh my goodness! I’d read about the cooling provided by these towers but never about the fertilizer!

[@VioletaM85]

Thank you for your work and research. This information can be vital towards our future 🙏🙏💖

[@timeflysintheshop]

Very cool! Thank you for making this video! 👍😁

[@apotheosisofarose1425]

Love the idea for this to be used in inner cities

[@RKZX2]

I remember these structures in the game Assassins Creed:Origins, which takes place in Egypt. What a very cool detail of the game.

[@donnadees1971]

My GOD! its 2023-I just find out about these NOW? How wonderful. But why never seen before?

[@JoyPeace-ej2uv]

In the USA we often have gourds on poles for bird houses near houses and fields for swifts a bird that catches insects to protects crops and gets rid of pdsky mosquitos. They also leave droppings on the fields.

[@jeanjearman2025]

Brilliant.

[@speliotis]

fascinating...

[@mercy3219]

We need to do this in the US for the purposes described as well as some deviation to produce/capture water (like in Africa). We need to get some experiments going in areas where we have had difficulty with droughts. Perhaps there is an alternative design that could be brought online to alleviate deluges of water for flood years. Building giant dams and power stations have held the function for the last decades. Research on ancient architecture for functional units such as these could benefit the world!

[@hollyp9811]

Permaculture design.

[@mercy3219]

@@hollyp9811 😎🫶🏼👍👏

[@donaldnord2895]

What a wonderful and clever concept....thankyou for sharing this with the world!

[@elliottjames671]

Pigeons also has use as a fertilizer interestings 🤔 along with a possible food source.

[@LostCylon]

It would be interesting to see, although I have some doubts in places like Australia, where we have a large amount of native birds who might think of them as a one stop food shop.

[@vivianramsay2527]

That would work so well in urban gardens! Easier to deal with than domestic small animals and very attractive. Our local wild dove population would greatly benefit and benefit us as well ! Everything old is new again !!😊🤩

[@lydialaxy4841]

Yeah sure if you like your back garden rat infested.Go ahead feed the pigeons your neighbors will thank you.

[@AhJodie]

Thank you, what fantastic structures

[@davidjooste5788]

This is a great channel. I've been inspired. Thanks.

[@carolleenkelmann3829]

I think all modern cities with a pigeon problem should invest in pigeon towers, harvest and sell the guana for a minimal price to cover costs and maintenance of the towers. It sure beats poisoning them or feeding them the pill and it would get the pigeons off the streets. I wonder if it would work for all those homeless drug addicted who display antisocial behavior that are not only an eyesore but also a health hazard.

[@theuglykwan]

What do the pigeons eat in the desert? Their crops?

[@Fishgod1216]

A bit of everything, thats the magic of these birds. Turning leftover seeds, corn, nuts, etc; bugs that kill crops, and turn them into N rich guano.

[@WyvernYT]

I wondered about that too. Some of those pictures showed enough towers for a lot of pigeons - I wouldn't have expected that great a population density in the desert.

[@christmassnow3465]

The issue is more complicated than this: You must maintain an ecosystem which feeds the pigeons. Otherwise, they will eat much of the crops. How did they sustain them?

[@NudePostingConspiracyTheories]

Oh my goodness. What a reveal !! I never even slightly guessed anything like what they turned out to be for. Amazing (I’m not giving away spoilers - not fair to the channel. Plus, it was such a kick for me to discover, I wouldn’t want to ruin it for anyone)

[@briangreen9677]

I saw these in the Middle East and never knew what they were. Thank you for telling us all about these!

[@Dancerlil]

The perfect example of going back to the future. Ancient wisdom surely needs a great revival. As always, thank you for these educational videos. So good to see these positive changes. Blessings to you & all. Liliane

[@nunyabiznes33]

Yachals, qanats, muqarnas... it seems a lot of the things we associate with the Middle East came from Persia.

[@Birdylockso]

Wow, I would not have guessed its function or purpose. You learn new things every day!

[@andyrbush]

That was truly amazing thank you.

[@nelsonvaught7445]

Thanks for this wonderful presentation.

[@dukecity7688]

This was fascinating. Well done. Thank You

[@tessariles4488]

Fascinating. Thank you for sharing.

[@rogersmith8339]

There are some amazing dove cots in France that must have fed many people.

[@preciousreading1934]

First time happened to see this technique. Very good.

[@alexanderkrishnadevaraya7719]

It's really an informative about world tq sis.❤

[@Materialworld4]

That was simply amazing, thank you for your wonderfully informative video on this subject, signed a Sonoran Desert Dweller.

[@bonnierobbins4230]

Wonderful idea!😊

[@lunkerjunkie]

I've been trying to think of a way to do this in the wash behind my house. thanks for posting this edit.

[@pamelachristie5570]

These are a wonderful idea! They look North African to me. But isn't it interesting that across the Middle East and India they were used symbiotically: Humans give pigeons a safe home, and pigeons give humans crop fertilizer. 100% mutually beneficial. But as soon as the idea went west, people started killing and eating the birds, and making their fertilizer into gunpowder to kill each other.

[@mariangrimsdell1112]

That says a lot about us westerners, and it’s not complimentary, all societies have a negative side but darn to think they used it for gunpowder, when others were using it to create food is just so depressing.

[@namedrop721]

Gunpowder was a new invention and as Europe wasn’t a desert they were able to switch over. This isn’t the deep moral parable you think it is. ‘They could have had farmland but instead they decided on doom!’ People really are stupid and suggestible.

[@namedrop721]

Besides with all the sectarian violence, wouldn’t you say the enlightened lands of the Middle East are doing enough killing amongst themselves at the moment?

[@mudra5114]

I think pigeons are eaten in the Middle East too and Westerners did not need pigeon dung for fertilizer, Northern Europe is not a desert like Iran.

[@studiosandi]

Thank you for sharing! This is a very interesting video❤

[@yonipoabaty7456]

I understand why Iran is a land of engineers👌🏿👍🏾

[@rosemaysharonacedera6053]

Amazing...what a brilliant idea!

[@reggaespiritdance]

Amazing, thanks for sharing this. Truly genius

[@vickijohnston8896]

FAscinating!! So Ingenious! Thank You.

[@cindypappas253]

Brilliant information! Thank you!

[@LeafofLifeWorld]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kayekaye251]

This is amazing! I hope they don't forget the technology.

[@velvetindigonight]

You learn something new every day………. Thank you

[@timothyhume3741]

It is brilliant and a practice I participate in. I keep pigeons on the farm and use the manure in all our gardens,

[@hih-meh1344]

I never knew this until today.. many thanks❣️

[@LeafofLifeWorld]

You’re welcome 😊

[@finscreenname]

I just learned something. Thank you.

[@havingalook2]

Brilliant, harvesting what others see as waste and putting it to very good use.

[@ingramdw1]

It just goes to show that although we don't have written records, there's always been smart people inventing useful things.

[@ZawnDawn]

Took so long to get to the point that I figured it out myself

[@gK-ih2ct]

Amazing video and info!

[@jigold22571]

Thank You.

[@williamharding4260]

I’m a sucker for gathering new knowledge - thanks for this straightforward explanation of the dove towers.

[@LeafofLifeWorld]

Thank you, I glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@stevetonnesen3666]

Perfect! We could use these in Florida for seabirds!

[@pieteri.duplessis]

What a delightful idea.

[@mdyusufali9105]

Thanks. Excellent

[@nosretep1960]

Utterly fascinating!

[@sidneylewis9964]

Awesome for the pigeon and for the people.. Absolutely brilliant! Keep going...☺☺

[@maryusa8526]

Amazing 😮❤

[@juliewilliams489]

That was awesome 👌

[@kannaiya1000]

fantastic study. I wood not have known it but for this fantastic video.

[@sharongibson1161]

That's ingenious ❤

[@cherylbenton7107]

Fascinating! ❤

[@peterjones5720]

Fascinating!

[@gerardjagroo]

What a wonderfully clever idea!

[@kaidechrailama609]

I believed this can be but but but i had no idea about this before this and I'm happy because we can learn or use this method in our farming land area too.

[@AspenVonFluffer]

good stuff - thank you!

[@arthurwagar88]

Interesting. Thanks.

[@billrockmaker]

I have been interested in adobe forever and I have also grown to hate pigeons, but you just rocked my world!! I love to grow a garden and am always in need of nitrogen-rich material. This is awesome!!! Thank you!!

[@cindycreateforlife]

Guano is also a source for histoplasmosis like chickens manure and bat guano, so do your research to protect yourself!

[@antarkirti10]

wonderfull , so intelligent, thanx so much for sharing

[@Machike57]

Unbelievable and Enlightenning!

[@eevaraaste3467]

Excellent!

[@aleenaprasannan2146]

I'm guessing Chronic Bronchitis, Broncial Asthma, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Psittacosis, Hystoplasmosis, Encephalitis, Salmonellosis and E.Coli infections were some of the reasons they went out of popularity, and certainly away from heavily populated cities. There is a reason why every city in world is trying their best to control the pegion population and many are banning people from feeding pegions. If its a choice between not having pegion towers in your city and having you kid suffer through respiratory diseases eventually needing a lung transplant, pretty sure most people would choose to live without a pegion tower

[@sleethmitchell]

beautiful.

[@sulimanibra5332]

Simply: that's great