UM EL JIMAL
Rising out of Jordan’s northern basalt plain, beautiful Umm al-Jimal is both a modern town and an ancient archaeological site, home to almost 2000 years of fascinating history and culture – Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Mamluk, Ottoman and Modern. It was a thriving agricultural center and a stop on the Hijaz to Damascus caravan route. One can explore over 150 well preserved ancient structures, built in neighborhoods along meandering alleys and around hosh-like plazas. Umm al-Jimal is also a modern community with much to offer to its visitors. Your visit to this town will enrich your archaeological experience with a still living Bedouin cultural heritage, in the downtown shops and residents’ homes. Just 90 minutes from Amman by car, a visit to Umm al-Jimal makes an easy day trip that can include other similar sites in Northeast Jordan, or even the Desert Castles.
Umm El Jimal was built in an ancient Nabataean settlement using black basalt blocks supported with similar rectangular blocks.
This amazing city contains many basins for public or private use. The antiques of the Byzantium churches in Umm El Jimal include an ancient mosaic representing the Jordan River with the cities and villages mentioned in the Holy Book. Near Umm El Jimal, there is a residue of a Byzantium settlement in Umm El Rasas with a 15-meter tower on its upper end, used by the Monks for solitude. Historically, Umm El Jimal was famous as the link to the roads of Palestine and Jordan with those of Syria and Iraq.