Survey Project

A striking feature of Ammonite architecture is the "rujm" towers, scattered in large numbers across the Ammonite hinterland. Around 30 of these towers are still preserved today, though many are under significant threat from modern construction projects. These rectangular or round towers are built from large, unworked stones and are sometimes freestanding, while others are integrated into larger building complexes. Despite their prevalence, only a few rujm towers have been archaeologically investigated, and no systematic documentation exists. The few excavated examples indicate that many date to the late 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Their function remains unclear, whether as border fortifications, grain storage facilities, or perhaps as symbols of social identity.

Unique to Ammon, these towers have no counterparts in the neighboring Iron Age kingdoms in such large numbers. They reflect the monumental organization of Ammon’s landscape and suggest an interconnected network within the kingdom that extended beyond the capital, Rabbot-Ammon. Our ammap subproject aims to document this endangered cultural heritage. It will investigate whether these structures reinforced a sense of belonging within the kingdom and how identity formation extended beyond central power hubs.