Pella, Archaeological site in Tabqet Fahel, Jordan
Pella is an archaeological site in Tabqet Fahel with layers ranging from Stone Age dwellings to Byzantine churches and Islamic buildings. The excavation area spreads across multiple levels on the eastern slopes of the Jordan Valley, revealing how people built and lived here across different periods.
The settlement dates back around 20,000 years and evolved through the Bronze and Iron Ages to flourish under Roman rule. Different peoples and cultures shaped this place one after another, leaving traces of their way of life.
Early Christians who fled Jerusalem established a community here and shaped how their faith developed in this region. The site shows evidence of this religious shift in its physical layout and the churches that still stand today.
The site sits in the hills east of the Jordan Valley and is best explored on foot, since the excavations spread across multiple levels. Wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection, as shade is limited across the grounds.
People lived here without interruption for thousands of years, from early farmers to Romans, Byzantines, and later Muslims. This unbroken history is clearly visible in the layers of earth stacked on top of each other during excavations.
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