Bab edh-Dhra

Bab edh-Dhra is an archaeological site in Jordan’s southern Jordan Valley region, notable for its large Early Bronze Age cemetery and settlement remains. It is a major site for study of Bronze Age mortuary and settlement practices in the southern Levant.

The site was occupied and used primarily during the Early Bronze Age (roughly the 4th to 3rd millennia BCE) and archaeological work has focused on the cemetery and settlement relationship. Excavations in the mid-20th century and later fieldwork documented the tombs, material culture and stratigraphy used to date the site.

Bab edh-Dhra sits on the plateau east of the Dead Sea in the Al-Karak/ southern Jordan region, within the broader southern Jordan Valley landscape. It lies inland from the Dead Sea shore and is accessible from nearby towns and archaeological field routes.

• Major feature: The site is best known for its extensive Early Bronze Age cemetery, which provides key evidence on burial customs and community structure in the southern Levant.

What to See#

• Cemetery: The large cemetery area containing thousands of shaft tombs and burial shafts dating mainly to the Early Bronze Age, which is the feature most studied by archaeologists.
• Settlement mound: The settlement mound (tell) adjacent to the cemetery, representing domestic and public structures from the Bronze Age occupation phases.

Bab edh-Dhra lies east of the Dead Sea area; access is typically by car from the Dead Sea road or from Karak/Amman regions. Coordinate with local archaeological authorities or tour operators for permissions and exact directions.

• The site is an archaeological area with fragile remains; follow marked paths and guidelines to avoid damaging surfaces.
• Wear sturdy shoes - terrain can be uneven and broken with ancient stone.
• Bring water and sun protection; the Jordanian plateau sun is intense in summer months.