Khirbat al-Mudayna
Khirbat al-Mudayna al-Aliya · Mudayna Aliya · Mudayna
Iron Age (c.800–600 BCE; Moabite 800–600)·Moabite ( contemporary with Dibon, ruler Mesha? )·🇯🇴 Karak Governorate, Moab Highlands, Jordan
About
About Khirbat al-Mudayna
Khirbat al-Mudayna al-Aliya is a one-period enclosed Iron Age Moabite town (30 ha with 900-m casemate wall, 40 houses, sanctuary and reservoirs) — best-preserved Moabite town plan. Routledge & Porter excavations reveal 40 contiguous courtyard houses on wall, gate, century houses, textile loom workshops and large plastered water system (reservoirs). Contemporary with Mesha Stele Dibon peak.
Why it mattersBest-preserved Moabite town plan — casemate–house synthesis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why one-period abandonment c.600?
- 02Mesha contemporary?
Theories
- 01Moabite corporate village (Routledge)
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.900 BCE
- Period
- Iron Age (c.800–600 BCE; Moabite 800–600)
- Culture
- Moabite ( contemporary with Dibon, ruler Mesha? )
- Builders
- Moabite villagers of Mudayna
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.600 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1994 (Routledge)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.800 BCE
Moabite Mudayna walled town built (Mesha era)
c.600 BCE
Abandonment — Babylonian pressure?
1994
Routledge-Porter survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
31.2000° N · 35.7200° E · 820 m · 3 mapped features
Casemate Wall and Integrated Courtyard Houses
fortification900-m casemate wall with 40 contiguous courtyard houses built into circuit
31.2003° N · 35.7202° ESanctuary and High-Place Altar (bamah)
templeHilltop sanctuary with standing stone and offering benches
31.1997° N · 35.7203° EPlastered Reservoir and Water System
hydraulicLarge plastered cisterns/reservoirs feeding town, hilltop hydraulic engineering
31.2005° N · 35.7194° E