ABSTRACT
Tall Jalul, at 18 acres, is the largest tell site in the central Jordan plateau (Fig. 1). It also occupies the highest point in the immediate region around Madaba, making it a most imposing feature on the western side of the Madaba Plain. It is located 5 km due east of the town of Madaba and due west of the Queen Alia International Airport. The site is almost square in outline with a high, flat acropolis occupying the southwest quadrant. A number of rocky hills on the tell are suggestive of badly eroded ruins of ancient buildings. Two broad depressions in the southeast quadrant indicate the presence of ancient water systems. Jalul’s ancient identity remains uncertain with suggestions ranging from Bezor (Josh 20:8) to an earlier, pre-iron age site for biblical Heshbon (Num 21).
