Tell el-Kheleifeh
archaeological site in Jordan
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Tell el-Kheleifeh, a remarkable archaeological site situated in the harsh but beautiful desert landscape of modern day Jordan. I am delighted to be your guide as we explore the remnants of what was once a bustling hub…
Listen in the app2The Monumental Gate and Great Wall
We begin our physical journey through Tell el-Kheleifeh at the very threshold of the ancient complex, right where arriving merchants would have dismounted from their weary beasts of burden. You are now standing before the ghostly…
Listen in the app3The Grand Open Court
Passing through the monumental gate, we now step into the vast expanse of the central courtyard. This large open court was the very heart of the caravanserai, the pulsating center where the primary logistical operations of the…
Listen in the app4The Peripheral Lodging Chambers
Moving away from the bustling center of the great courtyard, we approach the architectural perimeter of the settlement. Take a moment to trace the outlines of the foundations along the inside of the great fortification wall. …
Listen in the app5Room 49: The Great Bakery
As we continue our exploration of the site's interior architecture, we arrive at the remains of a particularly fascinating structure designated by the excavators as Room forty nine. At first glance, the mudbrick foundations here…
Listen in the app6Rooms 45 and 36: The Culinary Preparations
Just a short distance from the intense heat of the great bakery, we find ourselves among the foundations of Rooms forty five and thirty six. If Room forty nine was dedicated exclusively to the mass production of bread, these…
Listen in the app7The Provisioners' Quarter: Travel Foods
We now step into an area of the settlement that served a critically different function from the hot kitchens and bakeries we just explored. While the large communal stews and fresh barley breads were meant for immediate…
Listen in the app8The Merchants' Workshops and Exchange
Our final stop within the walls of Tell el-Kheleifeh brings us to the industrial and economic heart of the caravanserai: the workshops and the zone of commercial exchange. A long journey across rough terrain inevitably takes a…
Listen in the app9Closing
As our walking tour of Tell el-Kheleifeh comes to a close, let us pause once more near the monumental gate and look out toward the vast, unchanging desert horizon. The wind that blows across the sand today is the exact same wind…
Listen in the app
What is Tell el-Kheleifeh?
Tell el-Kheleifeh is a place with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Type | Heritage |
|---|---|
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 29.5472, 34.9803 |
| Last updated |
