Tell el-Kheleifeh

Tell el-Kheleifeh is an archaeological site in Jordan located at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Initially thought to be a 10th-century port linked to King Solomon, further archaeological assessments have re-dated its significant occupation phases. Sparse ceramic findings suggest possible Late Bronze Age habitation. The first definitive architectural remains appear in the 8th century BCE as a casemate fortress. This structure was later expanded in the 7th century BCE into a larger fortified settlement, possibly an Assyrian fortification that strategically controlled trade routes with Arabia. The site also shows evidence of occupation during the Persian period. Its historical significance lies in its strategic location and phased occupation, reflecting broader regional interactions from the Late Bronze Age through the Persian period.