Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan
Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan
Ancient Jerico/Tell es-Sultan is located northwest of present-day Jericho in the Jordan Valley in Palestine, the property is an oval-shaped Tell, or mound, that contains the prehistorical deposits of human activity, and includes the adjacent perennial spring of ‘Ain es-Sultan. By the 9th to 8th millennium BC, Neolithic Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan was already a sizeable permanent settlement, as expressed by surviving monumental architectural attributes such as a wall with a ditch and a tower. It reflects the developments of the period, which include the shifting of humanity to a sedentary communal lifestyle and the related transition to new subsistence economies, as well as changes in social organisation and the development of religious practices, testified by skulls and statues found. The Early Bronze Age archaeological material on the site provides insights into urban planning, while vestiges from the Middle Bronze Age reveal the presence of a large Canaanite city-state, equipped with an urban centre and technologically innovative rampart fortifications, occupied by a socially complex population.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Ancien Jéricho/Tell es-Sultan
L’Ancien Jéricho/Tell es-Sultan est situé au nord-ouest de l'actuelle Jéricho dans la vallée du Jourdain en Palestine. Le bien est un Tell, ou monticule, de forme ovale qui recèle les gisements préhistoriques d’activités humaines, et comprend la source voisine pérenne de 'Ain es-Sultan. Entre le IXe et le VIIIe millénaire avant notre ère, l’Ancien Jéricho/Tell es-Sultan néolithique était déjà un établissement permanent important, comme en témoignent les attributs architecturaux monumentaux qui ont survécu, tels qu'un mur avec un fossé et une tour. Il reflète les évolutions de cette période, notamment le passage de l'humanité à un mode de vie communautaire sédentaire et la transition connexe vers de nouvelles économies de subsistance, ainsi que des changements dans l'organisation sociale et le développement de pratiques religieuses, comme en témoignent les crânes et les statues découverts. Le matériel archéologique de l'âge du Bronze ancien sur le site donne des indications sur la planification urbaine, tandis que les vestiges de l'âge du Bronze moyen révèlent la présence d'une grande cité-État cananéenne, dotée d'un centre urbain et de fortifications à remparts technologiquement innovantes, occupée par une population socialement complexe.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
أريحا القديمة / تل السلطان
يقع هذا العنصر في وادي الأردن وهو عبارة عن تل ذي شكل بيضوي يحتوي على بقايا أثرية تعود لنشاط بشري من حقبة ما قبل التاريخ، وتقع بالقرب منه "عين السلطان" وهي نبع ماء دائم. وقد نشأت في هذا الموقع مستوطنة دائمة بين الألفية التاسعة والألفية الثامنة قبل الميلاد نظراً إلى وجود التربة الخصبة في الواحة وسهولة الوصول إلى المياه. وتشهد الجماجم والتماثيل التي وُجدت في الموقع على وجود ممارسات طقسية لدى السكان الذين عاشوا هناك في العصر الحجري الحديث، وتشير اللقى الأثرية التي تعود إلى العصر البرونزي المبكر إلى وجود تخطيط للمدن. وتكشف آثار العصر البرونزي الأوسط عن وجود مدينة دولة كنعانية كبيرة عاش فيها سكان يتسمون بعلاقات اجتماعية معقدة.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
古耶利哥城/苏丹台形遗址
遗产位于约旦河谷，是一包含史前人类活动遗迹的椭圆形土丘，还包括毗邻此地、常年不竭的“苏丹之泉”（Ain es-Sultan）。由于绿洲的肥沃土壤和便利水源，早在公元前9-8千年，这里就出现了人类永久定居点。在遗址上发现的头骨和雕像展示了此地新石器时代居民的宗教崇拜习俗；青铜器时代早期的考古资料显示出城市规划的迹象；青铜器时代中期的遗迹则表明这里曾有一个大型迦南城邦，居住着复合社会群体。
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Древний Иерихон/Телль-эс-Султан
Расположенный в долине реки Иордан объект представляет собой курган овальной формы, содержащий археологические находки тысячелетней деятельности человека, и прилегающий к нему многолетний источник Айн-эс-Султан. Постоянное поселение возникло здесь к IX-VIII тысячелетию до н.э. благодаря плодородным почвам Иерихонского оазиса и легкому доступу к воде. Найденные на территории поселения черепа и статуэтки свидетельствуют о культовой практике неолитического населения, а археологические материалы раннего бронзового века имеют признаки градостроительства. Находки эпохи средней бронзы свидетельствуют о существовании крупного ханаанского города-государства, в котором проживало социально сложное население.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Prehistórica Jericó /Tell es-Sultan
Situado en el valle del Jordán, el sitio es un tell o montículo de forma ovalada que contiene los restos arqueológicos depositados tras milenios de actividad humana, e incluye el manantial perenne adyacente de 'Ain es-Sultan. Hacia los milenios octavo y noveno a.C. ya había surgido aquí un asentamiento permanente, debido a la fértil tierra del oasis de Jericó y al fácil acceso al agua. Los cráneos y las estatuas hallados en el yacimiento atestiguan prácticas cultuales que realizaban las poblaciones neolíticas que vivían allí, y el material arqueológico de la Edad de Bronce temprana muestra indicios de planificación urbana. Los vestigios de la Edad de Bronce media revelan la presencia de una gran ciudad-estado cananea ocupada por una población socialmente compleja.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
Located northwest of present-day Jericho in the Jordan Valley in Palestine, Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan consists of an oval-shaped tell, or mound, that contains archaeological deposits of human activity dating back to about 10,500 BC, and the adjacent perennial spring of ‘Ain es-Sultan, which for millennia has been an important source of water for the inhabitants of this area.
The stratigraphy of this archaeological site shows twenty-nine phases of occupation and testifies to two historical-cultural contexts, namely the Neolithisation of the Fertile Crescent and the phenomenon of urbanism in southern Levant during the Bronze Age.
By the 9th to 8th millennium BC, Neolithic Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan was already a sizeable permanent settlement, as expressed by surviving monumental architectural features such as a wall with a ditch and a tower. It reflects the developments of the period, which include the shifting of humanity to a sedentary communal lifestyle and the related transition to new subsistence economies, as well as changes in social organisation and the development of religious practices.
The Early Bronze Age archaeological material on the site provides insights into urban planning, while vestiges from the Middle Bronze Age reveal the presence of a large Canaanite city-state, equipped with an urban centre and technologically innovative rampart fortifications, occupied by a socially complex population.
Criterion (iii): Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan testifies in an exceptional way to developments that took place across the Near East in the Neolithic, characterised by the shifting of humanity to a new sedentary lifestyle and the related transition to new subsistence strategies. It demonstrates how people learned to live in larger, more permanent settlements and develop new social and ritual methods of communal living. Monumental features of the property, the presence of shared structures, and the evidence of post-mortem treatment of skulls provide important insights into changes in social organisation, and into the degree of skill, planning, and labour that this social organisation required. The deep stratigraphy preserved on the tell has the potential to answer many questions related to development and change of societies in the Neolithic period.
Criterion (iv): Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan is an outstanding example of a permanent settlement with a long history that testifies to the transition of the people of the Levant from hunter-gatherers to a sedentary lifestyle in the Neolithic, and provides evidence of the rise of early Levantine urban culture in the Early Bronze Age. With its monumental architectural features and shared structures dating from the 9th to 8th millennium BC, the property exemplifies in an exceptional way the process of Neolithisation of the Fertile Crescent, a significant stage in human history. It further allows developments in building traditions to be observed in both the private and public spheres in the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, its Middle Bronze Age ramparts in particular showing evidence of innovative construction techniques.
Integrity
All the attributes necessary to convey the Outstanding Universal Value are located within the boundaries of the property. These attributes include the archaeological deposits and the above-ground archaeological vestiges of Ancient Jericho dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods, as well as the adjacent spring of ‘Ain es-Sultan. The excavated artefacts have been alienated from the site. The property is of sufficient size to ensure the complete representation of the features and values that convey its significance. Its archaeological deposits and deep stratigraphy are well preserved, despite destruction of some structures as a result of past archaeological investigations. The uncovered structures are fragile in some instances. The property does not suffer from adverse effects of development and/or neglect.
Authenticity
Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan is authentic in terms of its forms and designs, materials and substance, and location. The Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological vestiges of Ancient Jericho, while in some cases damaged during early excavations, truthfully convey the Outstanding Universal Value. The designs, materials and substance of the archaeological vestiges in situ are authentically preserved and have maintained their intact forms. Conservation measures are needed in several cases, such as for the Middle Bronze Age ramparts. No reconstructions have been made at the site, which remains in its historical location. Minimal interventions that have occurred have been made distinguishable from the original fabric. The rehabilitated ‘Ain es-Sultan spring has retained its original function as a water source.
Protection and management requirements
The property is protected by the Tangible Cultural Heritage Law (No. 11, 2018) of Palestine, according to which any major intervention, including conservation activities and excavations, must first be approved by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and any new structures or major changes in the areas surrounding the property require an Environmental and Heritage Impact Assessment. The Building and Planning Law (No. 79, 1966; Jordanian Law) is in force in the buffer zone. Additional regulatory measures apply through the Jericho City Spatial Urban Plan, soon to be supplemented with regulations pertaining to the Detailed Urban Master Plan for the Tell es-Sultan Area. The Jericho City Spatial Urban Plan identifies the property and the majority of its buffer zone as a protected archaeological area (antiquities zone).
The property is owned by the State Party and managed as a National Archaeological Park by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the highest heritage authority in Palestine, which is responsible for on-site management and conservation. The ‘Ain es-Sultan spring will be managed jointly with the Ministry. A Management and Conservation Plan is intended to address the most important aspects of research, management, conservation, and interpretation of the property.
