Khirbat al-Ghuwayba

3D Model

This model depicts Khirbat al-Ghuwayba (KAG), an Iron Age archaeological site in the Faynan region of modern Jordan. Small excavations discovered evidence for limited copper production in the form of slag and dated the site to the Early Iron Age based on radiocarbon. The site was contemporaneous with Khirbat al-Jariya and Khirbat en-Nahas. Unlike these sites, KAG is located adjacent to a prennial spring which provides enough water for modern fruit trees. Botanical evidence collected from Khirbat al-Jariya discovered remains of date palm, fig, grape, olive, and pomegranate that potentially originated from similar orchards in the Iron Age. Thus, KAG might have also served as a provisioning site for local workers.

Photography and model by Matthew D. Howland.

Further Reading: Liss, B et al. (2020) Up the Wadi: Development of an Iron Age Industrial Landscape in Faynan, Jordan. Journal of Field Archaeology