Project Type:
Visitors’ walking tour and 14 graphic informational panels including 3D computer reconstructions

Partners:
American Center for Oriental Research (ACOR), Amman, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan.

Background:
The site of the medieval city and trading port of Ayla is located in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, just to the northeast of the modern commercial center. Among the archaeological monuments of Jordan - and indeed the Middle East - the site of ancient Ayla offers a unique perspective on Jordan’s early Islamic Heritage. It features the most complete fortifications that survive from this period and one of the most complete early Islamic congregational mosques. Of historical importance, Ayla was the first city outside the Arabian Peninsula to be annexed by the Muslim world.

The site covers an area of approximately 165 x 140 meters and was excavated by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago between 1986 and 1993. The United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) provided funding to help develop the site between 1987 and 1989, during which time the project was administered by the American Center for Oriental Research (ACOR). The excavations revealed the impressive remains of a port and trading city of the Early Islamic period, with finds illustrating commerce, religion, and urban development from the time of the Islamic Conquest to the eventual abandonment of the site in the 12th century, during the Crusader Period.

Graphical Panels in Aqaba

The archaeological site of Ayla in Aqaba

Interpretive Methodology and Context:
In April 2004, a new walking path and 14 bilingual (English-Arabic) informational panels were installed at the site as the result of cooperation between the Ename Center and ACOR. These panels were designed by the staff of the Ename Center in close consultation with ACOR and were produced as the result of a special grant by the Aqaba Technical Assistance project of USAID to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority.

With the development of the excavation site into an accessible archaeological park open to the general public, it adds a significant cultural attraction to the range of activities available to tourists. No less important, it will hopefully serve as an educational and social enhancement of the local population of Aqaba (i.e., schools and community groups) in highlighting the connection of trade, navigation, and Islamic historical heritage to contemporary society in Jordan.