Umm el-Jimal is an extensive ancient site, located on a kilometer of volcanic
flows about 70 minutes northeast of modern Amman, Jordan. Over 150
buildings of hewn blue-gray basalt still stand from the original Byzantine
and early Islamic town, as well as additional ruins from an earlier Nabataean
and Roman village. Built to meet the needs of its rural inhabitants, most of
the buildings are houses with a central courtyard and additional spaces for
animals. Extensive water works were also built, able to store
enough water from the region's sporadic rains for irrigation,
animals, and the town's over 5000 residents. After 800
years of continual occupation, Umm el-Jimal was probably
abandoned in the 8 th century AD.
flows about 70 minutes northeast of modern Amman, Jordan. Over 150
buildings of hewn blue-gray basalt still stand from the original Byzantine
and early Islamic town, as well as additional ruins from an earlier Nabataean
and Roman village. Built to meet the needs of its rural inhabitants, most of
the buildings are houses with a central courtyard and additional spaces for
animals. Extensive water works were also built, able to store
enough water from the region's sporadic rains for irrigation,
animals, and the town's over 5000 residents. After 800
years of continual occupation, Umm el-Jimal was probably
abandoned in the 8 th century AD.
A beta version of Open Hand's new Umm el-Jimal website is now online.
This project is affiliated with the American Center for Oriental Research, in Amman, Jordan.
OHS and the UJ project are currently recruiting students for a field school in January 2009.
Since 2003 Open Hand staff have worked with the
Umm el-Jimal archaeology research project, directed
by Dr. Bert de Vries of Calvin College and affiliated
with the American Center for Oriental Research
in Amman, Jordan. OHS is currently partnering
with the project and Umm el-Jimal's people
to create an online virtual museum and
research site to help preserve the site for
generations to come, and directly benefit
the local community through responsible
cultural tourism.
Umm el-Jimal archaeology research project, directed
by Dr. Bert de Vries of Calvin College and affiliated
with the American Center for Oriental Research
in Amman, Jordan. OHS is currently partnering
with the project and Umm el-Jimal's people
to create an online virtual museum and
research site to help preserve the site for
generations to come, and directly benefit
the local community through responsible
cultural tourism.
Early in the 20 th century Umm el-Jimal was reoccupied by the Druze people, and today it is also home to a growing population. Building from early archaeological surveys, the Umm el-Jimal project has worked since the 1970s to understand the site's people and 2000 years of cultural heritage.
