Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley
Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley Tell
Chalcolithic (4500–3900 BCE)·Ghassulian·🇯🇴 Balqa Governorate, Jordan Valley, Jordan
About
About Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley
Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley in Balqa Governorate, Jordan Valley, Jordan is a Chalcolithic (4500–3900 BCE) ancient city attributed to Ghassulian culture. German and Syrian excavations document stratified sequence with ceramic seriation and radiocarbon. The site includes a principal mound and ancillary settlement.
Why it mattersKey Ghassulian site illustrating Chalcolithic (4500–3900 BCE) ancient-city traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Urban planning of Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley
- 02Chronology of lower town
Theories
- 01Administrative centre for Ghassulian
- 02Trade hub on Euphrates/Khabur
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. 4500 BCE
- Period
- Chalcolithic (4500–3900 BCE)
- Culture
- Ghassulian
- Purpose
- Frescoed Chalcolithic town with star wall paintings
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 4500 BCE
Initial settlement
c. 2000 BCE
Major expansion and fortification
On the ground
Structures & features
31.8622° N · 35.6422° E · 587 m · 3 mapped features
- Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley — Main MoundmoundMain tell mound Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley 15 m high with stratified phases31.8630° N · 35.6430° E
- Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley — Lower TownsettlementLower town settlement 10 ha with houses and kilns31.8613° N · 35.6417° E
- Teleilat Ghassul — Jordan Valley — Gate AreagateFortified gate with mudbrick walls and bastions31.8633° N · 35.6415° E