The Gadara Region Project - Archaeology of a landscape (2001-2020)

With Google-Earth to the Tall Zira´a (click here)

In the coming years, the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in the Holy Land (GPIA), in cooperation with the Biblical-Archaeological Institute Wuppertal (BAI) as well as with other scholars and scientific institutions, will continue the exploration of  the lower section of the Wadi al-‛Arab. After the BAI started the archaeological explorations in 2001, the GPIA Institutes in Amman and Jerusalem have participated in the project since 2004 and 2006, respectively.

Scenic view from 2004 (click here)

Area I - III (2009)

The aim is to explore the diverse civilisations, spanning 8,000 years in the history of humankind, in this geopolitically important wadi, which is attractive not only because of its landscape but also because it served as an important link between the Mediterranean and Transjordan. The most significant site in the Wadi al-‛Arab is Tall Zira‛a (geographic coordinates: 211 940/225 180). The tall measures approx. 200 m in diameter; its highest point is located at 17 m below sea level.