Jabal al-Qal'a

Temple of Hercules on the Citadel Mountain in Amman.

Coordinates: 31°57′17″N 35°56′03″E / 31.9547°N 35.9343°E / 31.9547; 35.9343 Jabal al-Qal'a, also called Amman Citadel is a national historic site at the center of downtown Amman, Jordan. Known in Arabic as Jabal al-Qal'a, (جبل القلعة) , the L-shaped hill is one of the seven jabals that originally made up Amman. Evidence of occupation since the pottery Neolithic period^[1] has been found, making it among the world's oldest continuously inhabited places.

The Amman Citadel’s history represents significant civilizations that stretched across continents and prospered for centuries, as one empire gave rise to the next. It also symbolizes the birth of the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Settlement at the Citadel extends over 7,000 years. The site represents a passage in time with an astounding open-air museum to explore as a part of the heritage of mankind.

Though the fortification walls enclose the heart of the site, the ancient periods of occupation covered large areas. Historic structures, tombs, arches, walls and stairs have no modern borders, and therefore there is considerable archaeological potential at this site, as well as in surrounding lands, and throughout Amman.

The Amman Citadel is also the site of the first national Archaeological Museum, which is home to a collection of these artifacts as well as objects from other Jordanian historic sites.

A great part of the Citadel remains unexcavated.

References

1. ^ "Citadel, Amman, Jordan". http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/jordan/amman/citadel.html. Retrieved 2008-05-31.