Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North
Pre-Pottery Neolithic (7500-6500 BCE)·PPN Culture·🇯🇴 Petra region, Ma'an, Jordan
About
About Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North
Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North in Petra region, Ma'an, Jordan is a Pre-Pottery Neolithic (7500-6500 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 chamber 9 × 4 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 30.4031N 35.4675E controls access to Petra region, Ma'an 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 Petra region, Ma'an, 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. 7000 BCE
- Period
- Pre-Pottery Neolithic (7500-6500 BCE)
- Culture
- PPN Culture
- Purpose
- Settlement with domestic structures and ancillary ritual space
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 7000 BCE
Initial construction of Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North main structure
c. 825 BCE
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically at Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North
19th–20th century
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
30.4031° N · 35.4675° E · 1134 m · 3 mapped features
Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North — Main Ancient-Village Feature
moundPrimary mound at Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North — platform mound with stratified deposits
30.4012° N · 35.4690° EBa'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North — Secondary Enclosure
dromosAncillary dromos at Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North — enclosure wall with stratified deposits
30.4019° N · 35.4669° EBa'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North — Outlier Rock Art Panel
structureOutlier structure panel linked to Ba'ja Clifftop Cistern Terrace North ceremonial landscape
30.4049° N · 35.4683° E