Uyun al-Hammam

Uyun al-Hammam, located in Wadi Ziqlab, Jordan, is a significant prehistoric burial site dating back approximately 16,500 years. It is recognized as the earliest known formal burial site in the Middle East and potentially the oldest in the world, featuring remains from the Natufian culture. A unique aspect of the site is the interment of a red fox alongside a human, suggesting that ancient humans in this region may have kept foxes as companion animals, similar to dogs. This burial provides invaluable insights into the early burial practices and the possibility of animal domestication or companionship in prehistoric times. The site is instrumental in understanding the social and cultural behaviors of ancient populations in the Levant during the Upper Paleolithic period.