Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace
Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (8500-6500 BCE)·PPN Culture·🇯🇴 Amman Governorate, Jordan
About
About Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace
Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace in Amman Governorate, Jordan is a Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (8500-6500 BCE) ancient village attributed to PPN Culture. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal platform 6 × 5 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 32.0239N 35.9763E controls access to Amman Governorate resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient-village for Amman Governorate, illustrating PPN Culture construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Scale of population vs agricultural catchment
- 02Ritual vs domestic use
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 7600 BCE
- Period
- Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (8500-6500 BCE)
- Culture
- PPN Culture
- Purpose
- Settlement with domestic structures and ancillary ritual space
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 7600 BCE
Initial construction of Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace main structure
c. 1016 BCE
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically at Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace
19th–20th century
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
32.0239° N · 35.9763° E · 704 m · 3 mapped features
Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace — Main Ancient-Village Feature
templePrimary temple at Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace — enclosure wall with stratified deposits
32.0255° N · 35.9763° EAin Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace — Secondary Enclosure
chamberAncillary chamber at Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace — central chambered cairn with stratified deposits
32.0221° N · 35.9753° EAin Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace — Outlier Rock Art Panel
cairnOutlier cairn panel linked to Ain Ghazal Courtyard Shrine East Terrace ceremonial landscape
32.0231° N · 35.9782° E