Overview

Bibliography

‘Ain Ghazal is a 30-acre site located along the Zarqa River at the edge of the dry-farming zone. It is the largest known Neolithic site and was inhabited for 2000 years through four stages (Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B through the Yarmukian period); it demonstrates cultural innovations, social organization, religious symbols and architecture, and architectural changes.

The site was discovered in 1974 when road construction uncovered the settlement. The site was excavated and surveyed for six seasons, from 1982 to 1985 and 1988 to 1989, under the direction of G. O. Rollefson. Although very little of what was excavated remains visible today. There was hope that the site would be preserved for tourism, but this has yet to be accomplished. Nevertheless, a few Neolithic houses illustrate at least some of the architectural history of the site.

The archaeological strata uncovered at the site, as illustrated in the site plan, date to the following periods:

	Yarmukian Period
	Prepottery Neolithic C
	Late Prepottery Neolithic B