Ayn Ghazal 🇯🇴

Located in Amman, Jordan, along the banks of the Seil Amman stream near the Zarqa River, Ayn Ghazal invites you to step into a remarkable Neolithic archaeological site. Dating back thousands of years, this ancient valley-side settlement marks a crucial era when mobile hunter-gatherers transformed into settled farming and herding communities. As you explore, you will discover the birthplace of the famous Ayn Ghazal statues, which stand among the oldest large-sized statues ever found.

Ancient artisans crafted these impressive half-size human figures from white plaster molded around cores of bundled twigs, adding painted clothing, hair, body art, and eyes detailed with bitumen pupils and dioptase. Beyond these monumental figures, the site reveals terraced ground built with rectangular mud-brick houses featuring lime-plastered walls and square main rooms. You can learn how early inhabitants cultivated barley, wheat, and legumes, herded goats, hunted wild game like gazelles, and conducted rituals using small ceramic animal figures and tokens.

Ayn Ghazal provides an honest, fascinating glimpse into ancient social structures, early mining, and burial practices. It is a compelling destination for anyone eager to connect with humanity's deep prehistoric roots right outside central Amman.

What to see at Ayn Ghazal

• See where the ancient plaster Ayn Ghazal statues were discovered
• Explore remnants of terraced mud-brick houses with lime-plastered walls
• Learn about early Neolithic farming, goat herding, and wild game hunting
• Discover evidence of ancient ritual practices, ceramic figurines, and trade tokens

Visiting tips

Note that the site is located right near the busy Ayn Ghazal Interchange connecting Al-Shahid Street and Army Street, so factor urban traffic into your travel plans.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Ayn Ghazal is easy to reach on Amman’s public transport, and pairs naturally with King Abdullah I Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Amman travel guide.