Visit to the archaeological excavation site
Umm ar-Rasas is located 30 kilometres southeast of Madaba in the Amman Governorate in central Jordan, in the semi-arid steppe region of the Jordanian desert. The site is associated with the biblical settlement of Mephaat mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah.
In the 5th century, the Roman fort of Kastron Mefa'a on the Limes Arabicus and a settlement to the north developed into a Christian town that became an important place of pilgrimage. Many of the 16 churches were fitted with mosaic floors, some of which are still visible today. Particularly noteworthy is the mosaic floor of the Church of St. Stephen, which depicts cities in the region.
Due to the great importance of the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic remains from the late 3rd to 9th centuries, Umm ar-Rasas was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.
