An ancient city from the Byzantine era, once thought lost to time, has been rediscovered in southern Jordan. Known as Tharais, the town had largely vanished from memory, surviving only in historical debate and its appearance on the sixth-century Madaba Mosaic Map.
Now, a team of archaeologists has confirmed its location near the modern-day town of El-‘Iraq in the Karak Governorate.
The discovery follows a multi-year research project led by Musallam R. al-Rawahneh, associate professor of archaeology and ancient Near Eastern studies at Mutah University.
Between 2021 and 2024, al-Rawahneh and his team conducted field surveys and examined historical records, combining those findings with insights from local communities to identify the long-buried settlement.
Clues from the Madaba Map guided researchers
Tharais was originally featured on the Madaba Mosaic Map, a Byzantine-era floor mosaic housed in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Madaba. The map is widely recognized as the oldest surviving depiction of the Holy Land, charting biblical and historical sites across modern-day Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt.
Despite its prominence on the map, the precise location of Tharais had eluded scholars for over a century. Earlier guesses placed it in distant regions, including Dhat Ras. By comparing its position to other known landmarks on the map, particularly the village of Ai, researchers were able to narrow the search area.
The breakthrough came during a field survey in the rugged hills of western Karak. An increase in pottery shards and architectural remains from the Byzantine period, particularly along the northwestern edge of El-‘Iraq, pointed to continuous settlement from Roman through Islamic times. Among the artifacts found were fragments of mosaic floors, tools, glassware, and structural remains.
Evidence points to a religious and economic center
Most notably, archaeologists uncovered what appears to be a Byzantine church. Remnants include a gateway, columns, and decorated flooring, along with industrial installations such as an olive press. These finds suggest that Tharais was not only a religious hub but also an active economic center.
Further evidence emerged through stone inscriptions in Greek and Latin, found in partnership with institutions from Spain and France. These funerary inscriptions, dated between the fifth and seventh centuries A.D., confirm the presence of a Christian community and strengthen the case for the site’s identity as Tharais.
The town’s location, between the Moabite Plateau and the southeastern edge of the Dead Sea, placed it along an ancient Roman trade route connecting Zoar (now Ghor es-Safi) to central Jordan. According to al-Rawahneh, its visibility on the Madaba Map and the discovery of religious architecture indicate it served as both a sacred site and a waypoint for traders.
Architectural details match historical depictions
Archaeologists also found installations like watermills and grape-crushing basins, suggesting Tharais was economically self-sustaining. Decorative features, including triglyphs and mosaic tiles, reflect a blend of local and classical influences in its architecture.
The layout of the ruins, which feature gate-like structures and nearby towers, closely matches Tharais’s depiction on the Madaba Map. A rectangular stone doorway and large threshold stones resemble entrances found in other Byzantine churches, offering additional support for the site’s religious function.
The rediscovery comes amid rapid development in El-‘Iraq, where new roads and housing projects pose a threat to the site. Al-Rawahneh emphasizes the urgency of preservation, stating, “Our aim is not just to uncover Tharais, but also to advocate for the protection of Jordan’s rich cultural heritage.”
Tharais is now part of broader archaeological efforts in southern Jordan. Ongoing studies are expected to reveal more about the town’s role in history, shedding light on how its people lived, worked, and worshipped centuries ago.