Project Excavations
After the site's initial comprehensive survey in 1972-73, project excavations at Umm el-Jimal commenced with a series of preliminary soundings in 1974 and have continued at regular intervals ever since. In the 1970s and 80s, three early Field Seasons emphasized excavation of the late antique town and developing an occupation history of the site. The 1984 discovery that 'Al-Herri,' a ruinous area southeast of the town, was in fact a Roman-era village led to further excavations in the early 1990s. Additional research on the site's cemeteries and tombs was conducted in the late 1990s. Throughout much of 2012-2014 field staff excavated and consolidated the House XVII-XVIII complex as part of ongoing conservation work. In 2015 new work began near the West Gate, and on the water system.
Designated Research Areas
Due to the site's large size, over 800 by 600 meters for the late antique town alone, the project's excavations have aimed to target specific buildings as well as create a distribution of squares throughout the entire site. Similar to other Jordanian sites, the project defines squares as any excavation unit regardless of its shape, and areas as a set of related squares.
Area A: Squares A.1–A.4, 1977–81 & 1998
Barracks, S City Wall, and House 49 (the 'Nabataean Temple')
Area B: Squares 1.1–B.10, 1977–81
Praetorium and W City Wall
Area C: Squares C.1–C.21, 1977 & 2012–2014
House XVII–XVIII Complex
Area D: Squares D.1–D.4, 1981
Northeast Church
Area E: Squares E.1–E.15, 1981–84 & 1998
Numerianos Church
Area F: Squares F.1–F.11, 1981–84
Castellum, Castellum NE Gate, and Castellum NE Tower
Area G: Squares G.1–G.5, 1981
Water System
Area J: Squares J.1–J.9, 1981–84
Barracks and Barracks W Gate
Area K: Square K.1, 1981
Kiln Dump
Area L: Square L.1, 1981
North Dump and Reservoir Cleanout
Area N: Squares N.1–N.2, 1981
House XIV
Area O: Squares O.1–O.6, 1984
East Cemetery Tomb Probes
Area P: Squares P.1–P.4, 1974
Preliminary Stratigraphic Soundings
Area R: Squares R.1–R.19d, 1984 & 1994–98
1st–3rd Century Roman Village
Area T: Squares T.1–T.7, 1984
East Wadi Agricultural System
Area U: Squares U.1–U.7, 1984 & 1998
West Church
Area V: Square V.1, 1984
Northeast Mausoleum
Area W: Squares W.1–W.2, 1984
SE Cemetery Shaft Tombs
Area X: Squares X.1–X.2, 1984
Double Apse Church
Area Y: Squares Y.1–Y.13, 1993
House 119 (Site Museum)
Area Z: Squares Z.1–Z.11, 1993–96
Serour Orchard Cemetery
Area AA: Squares AA.1–AA.23, 1993–98
Girls' School Cemetery
Area BB: Squares BB.1–BB.2, 1996
Eastern Chamber Tombs
Area CC: Squares CC.1–CC.4, 1998
Olive Orchard Cemetery
Area DD: Squares DD.1–DD.3, 1998
Julianos Church
Area EE: Squares EE.1–EE.5, 2015
West Gate
Area FF: Squares FF.1–FF.3, 2015
Water System & Gardens
Stratigraphy
Developed and still being refined from the site's ceramic record, the project's working stratigraphy has been adapted from Lapp-Sauer's (LS) original ceramics scheme for the region. It applies their terminology as it more naturally reflects Umm el-Jimal's local cultural history, resulting in periods somewhat earlier than convention elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Umm el-Jimal has seven major strata, as outlined below by number, name, date range, and UJ/LS periods where different.
Stratum 1, Modern:
LS c. AD 1948 to present
Stratum 2, Late Ottoman & Mandate:
circa AD 1900–48
Post-Stratum 3 Gap, Ayubbid, Mamluk, & Ottoman:
circa AD 900–1900
Stratum 3, Early Islamic and Pre–Umayyad:
UJ mid 7th to 8th century AD;
LS c. AD 636–61, 661–800
Stratum 4, Late Byzantine:
UJ 6th to early 7th century AD;
LS c. AD 491–636
Stratum 5, Early Byzantine
UJ 4th–5th century AD;
LS c. AD 324–491
Stratum 6, Late Roman:
UJ mid 2nd to early 4th century AD;
LS c. AD 135–324
Stratum 7, Early Roman:
UJ mid 1st to early 2nd century AD;
LS c. AD 63–135
Pre-Stratum 7, Pre-Roman:
Before mid 1st century BC
Towards a History of
Umm el-Jimal
Ongoing archaeological study at Umm el-Jimal continues to inform an ever-evolving picture of life at the ancient town. The Findings section contains overview of the site's ancient History, People, Environment, as well as Religion and Society.