The Hoebah Dolmen Field in the Region of Sayl Haydan, Jordan: Findings and Implication for Jordanian Dolmens

Abstract

A new dolmen field was discovered in the Hoebah region in the Sayl Haydan, Jordan, during the recent survey of the ‘Ataruz-Sayl Haydan region. Subsequent surveys and soundings were carried out and the results show that the Hoebah dolmen field is likely to be Early Bronze I, and most of the dolmens are oriented toward the north, the northeast, the east, or the southeast. This dolmen field seems to constitute one of the southernmost dolmen clusters in Jordan. The findings shed light on the geographical distribution of early dolmen emergence in Jordan and the potential for dolmen orientations to help researchers understand religious and cultural beliefs behind Jordanian dolmen construction beyond the Hoebah dolmen field.