World Heritage Identification Number: 1093
World Heritage since: 2004
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Archaeological Sites
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇯🇴 Jordan
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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Exploring the Ancient City of Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a): A Journey Through Time
Um er-Rasas, also known as Kastrom Mefa'a, is a captivating archaeological site located approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Madaba in the Amman Governorate of Jordan. Situated in the semi-arid steppe region of the Jordanian Desert, the site was once accessible via branches of the King's Highway and is believed to be associated with the biblical settlement of Mephaat, as mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Most of this archaeological site, which started as a Roman military camp and grew to become a town from the 5th century, has not been excavated. It contains remains from the Roman, Byzantine and Early Muslim periods (end of 3rd to 9th centuries AD) and a fortified Roman military camp. The site also has 16 churches, some with well-preserved mosaic floors. Particularly noteworthy is the mosaic floor of the Church of Saint Stephen with its representation of towns in the region. Two square towers are probably the only remains of the practice, well known in this part of the world, of the stylites (ascetic monks who spent time in isolation atop a column or tower). Um er-Rasas is surrounded by, and dotted with, remains of ancient agricultural cultivation in an arid area.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (i): Um er-Rasas is a masterpiece of human creative genius given the artistic and technical qualities of the mosaic floor of St Stephen's church.
Criterion (iv): Um er-Rasas presents a unique and complete (therefore outstanding) example of stylite towers.
Criterion (vi): Um er-Rasas is strongly associated with monasticism and with the spread of monotheism in the whole region, including Islam.
Encyclopedia Record: Umm ar-Rasas
Umm ar-Rasas is located 30 km southeast of Madaba in the Amman Governorate in central Jordan. It was once accessible by branches of the King's Highway, and is situated in the semi-arid steppe region of the Jordanian Desert. The site has been associated with the biblical settlement of Mephaat mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. The Roman military utilized the site as a strategic garrison, but it was later converted and inhabited by Christian and Islamic communities. In 2004, the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is valued by archaeologists for its extensive ruins dating to the Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim periods. The Franciscan academic society in Jerusalem, Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (SBF), carried out excavations at the north end of the site in 1986, but much of the area remains buried under debris.Additional Site Details
Area: 23.928 hectares
Number of Components: 2
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 31.50167 , 35.92056
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Daniel Kirk, Public domain
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Presentating Reburied Mosaic through Augmented Reality: A Case Study from the Church of the Lions at the Cultural Heritage Site of Um er-Rasas, Jordan
Augmented Reality (AR) technology offers a promising solution to balance the preservation and accessibility of reburied mosaics at UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A study conducted at Um er-Rasas, Jordan, demonstrated that AR can significantly enhance visitor engagement and cultural understanding without compromising the physical integrity of the mosaics. Researchers developed an AR prototype using high-resolution photogrammetry data of a reburied mosaic from the Church of the Lions, integrated with Unity software. The application successfully presented the mosaic in situ, allowing users to explore its details and historical context virtually. This approach not only protects fragile heritage but also provides an immersive educational experience, bridging the gap between preservation needs and public accessibility.
Hwari, W., Bujeng, V., Ming Soon, S. C., Ababneh, A., & Talib, N. K. (2026). Presentating Reburied Mosaic through Augmented Reality: A Case Study from the Church of the Lions at the Cultural Heritage Site of Um er-Rasas, Jordan. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v16-i7/28624
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A Top-Down, Multi-Method and Multi-Scale Approach to Studying the Byzantine–Umayyad Settlement of Umm ar-Rasas (Amman, Jordan)
A groundbreaking study at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Umm ar-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) in Jordan has successfully delineated the northern boundaries of its Byzantine–Umayyad settlement, a task previously confined to theoretical discourse. The research, conducted between 2021 and 2023 as part of an ongoing multidisciplinary project initiated in 2013, employed a novel combination of remote sensing technologies, archaeological surveys, laser scans, and geophysical prospecting. This multi-methodological approach allowed for the first shared interpretation of the settlement's configuration, offering significant insights into its spatial organization during this pivotal period.
Cozzolino, M., Di Palma, F., Gabrielli, R., Mauriello, P., & Scardozzi, G. (2025). A Top-Down, Multi-Method and Multi-Scale Approach to Studying the Byzantine–Umayyad Settlement of Umm ar-Rasas (Amman, Jordan). Heritage, 8(5), 177. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8050177
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Integrating remote sensing and photogrammetric approaches to studying a fortified settlement along the Limes Arabicus: Umm ar‐Rasas (Amman, Jordan).
A fortified settlement along the Limes Arabicus, Umm ar-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a), reveals significant insights into its architectural and historical significance through advanced remote sensing and photogrammetric techniques. The study highlights the effectiveness of integrating these methods—remote sensing analysis, photogrammetry, and laser scanner surveys—to enhance the understanding and preservation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. By combining high-resolution data with traditional archaeological approaches, researchers have uncovered detailed spatial patterns and structural details that were previously inaccessible or less visible. This approach not only deepens our knowledge of the settlement's layout but also provides a robust framework for its conservation, ensuring that its heritage value is both studied and safeguarded for future generations.
Brucato, A. (2024). Integrating remote sensing and photogrammetric approaches to studying a fortified settlement along the Limes Arabicus: Umm ar‐Rasas (Amman, Jordan). Peer Community in Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.24072/pci.archaeo.100404
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HBIM for conservation and valorization of structural heritage: The Stylite Tower at Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan
A novel Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) workflow, combining advanced 3D modeling and heterogeneous data integration, has been successfully applied to the Byzantine Stylite Tower at Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan. This innovative approach enables detailed stone-by-stone segmentation of ancient structures while ensuring interoperability through CIDOC-CRM ontology and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The methodology not only organizes fragmented historical and maintenance data but also provides a flexible tool for qualitative and quantitative analysis, supporting conservation projects and cultural valorization. The open-access interactive model offers enhanced monument fruition by embedding organized document sources, setting a benchmark for broader application in archaeological site preservation.
Intrigila, C., Giannetti, I., Eramo, E., Gabrielli, R., & Caruso, G. (2024). HBIM for conservation and valorization of structural heritage: The Stylite Tower at Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 70, 397–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.10.010
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Study and enhancement of the heritage value of a fortified settlement along the Limes Arabicus. Umm ar‐Rasas (Amman, Jordan) between remote sensing and photogrammetry
A fortified settlement along the Limes Arabicus, Umm ar-Rasas (Amman, Jordan), has been extensively studied using advanced remote sensing and photogrammetry techniques to enhance its heritage value. The research revealed significant details about the castrum's construction phases, alterations, and conservation state through the analysis of historical aerial photographs and high-resolution satellite images, including Pléiades 1B (2020) and Pléiades Neo (2022). Multitemporal remote sensing data, combined with terrestrial photogrammetry using a Canon 5D Mark II and laser scanner surveys with Faro 120 and Faro 330 x, documented archaeological crop marks and buried ancient features. The study also identified stone material extraction locations, water reserves, canalization systems, and cultivated land organization, contributing to an updated archaeological map integrated into a GIS platform. These findings aim to support future valorization initiatives for the site.
Di Palma Francesca, Roberto, G., Pasquale, M., Miccoli Ilaria, & Scardozzi Giuseppe. (2023). Study and enhancement of the heritage value of a fortified settlement along the Limes Arabicus. Umm ar‐Rasas (Amman, Jordan) between remote sensing and photogrammetry. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.8306382
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Geophysical and Geomatic Methods for the Knowledge, Conservation, and Management of Jordanian Cultural Heritage
Non-destructive geophysical and geomatic methods offer a transformative approach to documenting, researching, and protecting Jordan's rich archaeological heritage. A two-decade synthesis of projects across seven key sites, including Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a), demonstrates their effectiveness in uncovering buried structures and assessing preservation states. This method provides an up-to-date overview of Jordan’s cultural landscape, supporting restoration efforts while preserving invaluable historical traces. The study underscores the potential of these techniques to prevent destruction and loss, offering a robust framework for heritage conservation.
Angelini, A., Cozzolino, M., Gabrielli, R., Gentile, V., & Mauriello, P. (2023). Geophysical and Geomatic Methods for the Knowledge, Conservation, and Management of Jordanian Cultural Heritage. Geosciences, 13(11), 349. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13110349
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On Early Byzantine Images of Poleis
Late antique representations of cities, particularly those found on the mosaic pavement of Saint Stephen at Kastron Mefaa (modern Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan), reveal a profound connection between eschatological salvation and pilgrimage networks. The study demonstrates that these cityscapes and personifications were not merely artistic expressions but carried significant political and ideological messages. They symbolized 'order' and 'economy,' key concepts in Byzantine political thought, ensuring social well-being for inhabitants and safe pilgrimage routes for the faithful. This notion of good administration extended to city personifications, further emphasizing Byzantium's political ideology of ecumenicity and Constantinople's civilizing mission during Justinian's era. The research approach involved analyzing a profuse assemblage of artifacts, including the Carolingian ivory diptych with Roma and Constantinopolis, to uncover these underlying messages.
Albani, J. P. (2023). On Early Byzantine Images of Poleis. The Routledge Handbook of the Byzantine City, 405–426. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429203923-24
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