How did early civilizations respond when their worlds fell apart? Archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen believe the 5,000-year-old site of Murayghat in Jordan may reveal some clues. Their extensive excavations suggest that this Early Bronze Age community developed powerful new traditions in the aftermath of cultural collapse.
Murayghat rose to prominence after the decline of the Chalcolithic culture (ca. 4500-3500 BCE), an era known for its village settlements, symbolic art, copper tools, and small shrines used for worship. According to researchers, a combination of climate change and social upheaval likely contributed to the collapse of that earlier way of life.
In the wake of this disruption, communities of the Early Bronze Age appear to have reimagined how they expressed faith and identity.
“Instead of the large domestic settlements with smaller shrines established during the Chalcolithic, our excavations at Early Bronze Age Murayghat show clusters of dolmens (stone burial monuments), standing stones, and large megalithic structures that point to ritual gatherings and communal burials rather than living quarters,” explains project leader and archaeologist Susanne Kerner of the University of Copenhagen.
Symbols of Identity and Territory
Archaeologists have documented more than 95 dolmen structures at Murayghat. The hilltop area at the center of the site also includes stone enclosures and carved rock features that appear to have had ceremonial purposes.
These striking monuments may have served as territorial markers or social symbols during a time when no central authority held power. Kerner notes, “Murayghat gives us, we believe, fascinating new insights into how early societies coped with disruption by building monuments, redefining social roles, and creating new forms of community.”
Rituals, Feasts, and Community Gathering
Excavations have uncovered a variety of artifacts that further support the idea of ritual activity at the site. Researchers found Early Bronze Age pottery, large communal bowls, grinding stones, flint tools, animal horn cores, and a few copper objects — all items that suggest ceremonial use and possible feasting events.
The layout and visibility of Murayghat also indicate that it may have served as a regional meeting place where different groups came together for social or spiritual gatherings.
Kerner recently detailed these findings in her publication Dolmens, standing stones and ritual in Murayghat, featured in the journal Levant. Her team’s work is helping reveal how ancient societies transformed crisis into creativity — building enduring symbols of identity and community that still stand amid the Jordanian hills today.
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