Wadi Jilat

Wadi Jilat, located in the Badia region of eastern Jordan, is an archaeologically significant area known for its prehistoric and historic sites. The wadi features a rare desert reservoir, potentially dating back to the Nabataean period, highlighting sophisticated water management practices. The area is home to thirty-two prehistoric sites discovered by Andrew Garrard, including the prominent Early Epipalaeolithic megasite Wadi Jilat 6, occupied from about 20,500 to 18,000 years ago. This site, along with Kharaneh IV, is among the largest prehistoric sites in the Levant, serving as a seasonal aggregation camp. Additionally, Wadi Jilat 7 provides the earliest known evidence of domesticated einkorn wheat, with radiocarbon dating placing it between 9500 and 9200 years ago, marking it as an important site for understanding early agriculture in the region.