Citadel Hill, Amman
Encyclopedia
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 Known in Arabic as Jabal al-Qal'a, (جبل القلعة) , the L-shaped hill is one of the seven jabals that originally made up Amman.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 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.
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. Known in Arabic as Jabal al-Qal'a, (جبل القلعة) , the L-shaped hill is one of the seven jabals that originally made up Amman.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
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period 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.