School of Archaeology and Tourism :: The University of Jordan :: The Neolithic Site of Tell Abu Suwwan.

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The Neolithic Site of Tell Abu Suwwan.

Tell Abu es Suwwan is located in Jordan on the east side of the old Jarash-Amman highway just before the turn to Ajloun. The University of Jordan conducted its field school at the site in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.  The excavation demonstrated that Tell Abu es Suwwan was occupied during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) and Yarmoukian periods. The site is one of the PPNB 'megasites', and the only excavated site north of the Zarqa River. Two substantial buildings were uncovered. One is a large, so-far-unique, squared/rectangular structure with parallel interior walls and three types of stratified plastered floors (red, yellow, and white), recalling the 'grille buildings' at the early Neolithic site of Çayönü, in eastern Anatolia. The other structure, located on the west side of the site, is a small room with mud floors defined by three stone walls.