Gilgal Argaman

   An Iron-age ceremonial site which was recently excavated in the Jordan valley near Moshav Argaman. It is likely that this site was erected by the Israelites, leaded by Joshua, and was their first camp after crossing the Jordan.

Joshua 4 19:"And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho"

Adam (Damiya) Bridge

    Located on an ancient trade route, this is the oldest bridge in the Jordan valley. The bridge was constructed several times (1266, 1947,  1950s, 1967). Near the bridge is the Biblical city of Adam.

Joshua 3 16: "That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan".

Khirbet Makhruk

 Ruins of a Canaanite city and fortresses dated to the Iron Age II period (Israelite Kingdom), on a broad ridge at the crossing of the Jordan valley and Tirza (Farha) valleys.

Jordan-Jericho

    The southern section of the Jordan river near the Dead sea. A traditional site of the Israelite crossing site to the Holy Land, Elijah's departure, baptize of Jesus by John, and location of many monasteries and chapels.

Fazael (Phasaelis) Brook

    The eastern section of Fazael brook includes a number of springs, a Roman period aqueduct, ruins of an Ottoman flour mill, and a Biblical Tell which is identified as Ataroth.

Joshua 16 5,7: "And the border of the children of Ephraim ... went down from ... to Ataroth..."

St. Gerassimos (Deir Hijla)

    A monastery on the southern side of the Jordan valley, founded in the 5th C by Abbot Gerassimos.

Joshua 15 6: "And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah"

Qumran

     Ruins of a famous Roman period settlement on the north-western shore of the Dead Sea. This was the home of the Essenes, a break-away sect. Scrolls, hidden in jars, were discovered in the caves around the site.

(also in the Judea sites gallery)