Tell Deir ‘Alla is an archaeological site located in the Jordan Valley, Jordan. It is thought to have been a small town or village that was inhabited from the Middle Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. The site was excavated in the 1960s and 1970s by a team of Dutch and Jordanian archaeologists.
The most significant finds from Tell Deir ‘Alla are a number of Aramaic inscriptions that were found on the walls of a building that was probably a temple. The inscriptions are thought to date from the 9th century BC. They contain a prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, a character who also appears in the Bible.
The inscriptions from Tell Deir Alla are important because they provide us with a glimpse into the religious beliefs of the people who lived in the region in the 9th century BC. They also show that the Aramaic language was widely spoken in the region at that time.
Here are some additional facts about Tell Deir ‘Alla:
- The site is located in the Balqa Governorate of Jordan, about 23 kilometers (14 mi) west of the city of Salt.
- The tell is about 15 meters (49 ft) high and covers an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres).
- The earliest occupation at Tell Deir ‘Alla dates to the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BC).
- The site was most intensively occupied during the Iron Age II period (1000-586 BC).
- The site was abandoned in the 6th century BC.
- The most significant finds from Tell Deir ‘Alla are the Aramaic inscriptions.