Wadi Fidan 4
وادي فيدان 4 · WF 4 · Wadi Faydan 4
Late PPNB to Early Pottery Neolithic (7000–6200 BCE)·Southern Levant PPNB → Wadi Rabah (PN)·🇯🇴 Aqaba Governorate, Wadi Fidan, Wadi Faynan system, Jordan
About
About Wadi Fidan 4
Late PPNB village (c.7000–6500 BCE) on Wadi Fidan terrace within the Faynan ore district, Clark–Finlayson et al. test trench. Small (0.5 ha) but crucial sequence: classic PPNB naviform lithics, lime plaster floors, and early Pottery Neolithic 'Wadi Rabah' painted ware in upper levels documenting the PPNB → PN collapse horizon in hyper-arid Copper Age Faynan after Khirbat Hamra Ifdan's hiatus. Provides eastern Arabah counterpart to Beidha–Basta upland abandonment pattern at 7000 BCE.
Why it mattersSouthernmost PPNB village in Arabah wadi system; rare Wadi Rabah PN after '8.2k event' in desert Faynan.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Did Wadi Fidan irrigation fail at 6200 BCE?
Theories
- 01Faynan wadi-oasis model precursor to Nabatean Qanat later
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 (Late PPNB)
- Period
- Late PPNB to Early Pottery Neolithic (7000–6200 BCE)
- Culture
- Southern Levant PPNB → Wadi Rabah (PN)
- Builders
- Faynan PPNB farming families
- Purpose
- Wadi-sourced irrigation village below ore hills
- Abandoned
- c.6200 BCE (Wadi Rabah desiccation)
- Rediscovered
- 1990s Finlayson survey; test-trenched 2002 CBRL
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.7000 BCE
PPNB rectangular houses founded
c.6400 BCE
Wadi Rabah painted pottery horizon in reuse
2002
CBRL test trench records sequence
On the ground
Structures & features
30.6420° N · 35.3560° E · 310 m · 1 mapped feature
PPNB house terrace
houseStone-walled house with naviform blades on floor
30.6422° N · 35.3563° E