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Jordan

Jawa, Jordan

Oldest proto-urban site in Jordan.

Time Periods

Paleolithic

Paleolithic

Mesolithic

Mesolithic

Neolithic

Neolithic

Chalcolithic

Chalcolithic

Bronze Age

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Iron Age

Classical Period

Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Early Modern Period

Early Modern Period

Industrial Period

Industrial Period

Contemporary Period

Contemporary Period

About

Jawa, located in Eastern Jordan's Black Desert, represents the oldest known proto-urban development in the region, dating back to the late 4th millennium BCE during the Early Bronze Age. The site features an impressive array of water management systems, including the oldest known masonry gravity dam, designed to protect against flash floods and sustain the settlement's population through the arid months. This early town was home to an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 inhabitants and included defensive walls and an extensive system of earthworks to manage water resources. The town was short-lived, possibly thriving for only a generation before succumbing to destruction. Despite its brief occupation, Jawa's archaeological significance lies in its unique adaptation to the harsh desert environment, demonstrating early human ingenuity in urban planning and water management.

Gallery

Explore photographs of ancient structures, artifacts, and archaeological excavations at Jawa, Jordan

FileJawa_Ruins.jpg
FileJawa_eastern_Jordan.jpg
FileReliefkarte_Jordanien.png

Archaeological Features

Explore the unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

Defensive Structures

Defensive Walls

Animal Husbandry Features

Animal Pens

Water Management Features

DamsReservoirsIrrigation Canals

Agricultural and Land Use Features

Field Systems

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Towns

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's archaeological history

Plan Your Visit

Details

Country
Jordan
Source
Wikipedia