Amman Citadel, Amman (must see)

The Amman Citadel, known locally as "Jabal Al-Qal'a," is an iconic archaeological site located in the heart of downtown Amman. Situated on an L-shaped hill, this historic site occupies one of the seven original hills, or "jabals," that formed the foundation of ancient Amman.

With a rich and storied past, the Amman Citadel has witnessed the occupation of numerous great civilizations throughout history. Its history dates back to the Neolithic period, with evidence of human settlement found at the site. Over time, the hill was fortified during the Bronze Age around 1800 BCE. It later served as the capital of the Kingdom of Ammon, a prominent kingdom that rose to power around 1200 BCE.

Throughout its history, the Citadel came under the control and influence of various empires, including the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BCE, the Neo-Babylonian Empire in the 6th century BCE, and later the Ptolemies, the Seleucids in the 3rd century BCE, the Romans in the 1st century BCE, the Byzantines in the 3rd century CE, and the Umayyads in the 7th century CE.

Following the Umayyad period, the Citadel experienced a period of decline, and for much of the time until 1878, it remained abandoned and in ruins, occasionally used by Bedouins and seasonal farmers. Despite this gap, the Amman Citadel is recognized as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited sites.

Today, most of the visible structures at the Citadel date from the Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad periods. Key archaeological features include the Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church, and the Umayyad Palace. Additionally, the Jordan Archaeological Museum, built in 1951, is situated on the hill and houses a rich collection of historical artifacts.

While the fortification walls enclose the central part of the site, the ancient periods of habitation covered extensive areas. Various historic structures, tombs, arches, walls, and stairways can be found without modern boundaries, offering significant archaeological potential. Archaeological work has been ongoing at the site since the 1920s, with contributions from Italian, British, French, Spanish, and Jordanian projects. Despite these efforts, a substantial portion of the Citadel remains unexcavated, promising further discoveries and insights into the fascinating history of this ancient landmark.