Let’s go back to the Neolithic period, which stretches from around 10,000 BC until 1000 BC. 3,000 BC This is a time of great change and innovation in human history. That’s when early humans switched from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle. People moved frequently in search of food and resources, began to settle in one place, and developed agricultural and trading systems.
“Jamila” or “The Beautiful” is the name archaeologists have given to the remains of a nine-year-old girl thousands of years ago. Her tomb, discovered in 2018, was buried in the Neolithic village of Baja, an ancient settlement in modern Jordan. Ba’ja was built around 5500 BC. It was built around 1000 BC and is considered to be one of the oldest ancient villages in the world. Located in a remote corner of the Black Desert in the eastern Jordan Valley region, Baha is known for its well-preserved adobe buildings and ancient artefacts such as tombs, pots and tools. These archaeological finds help shed light on the daily life and culture of the people who lived there.
The Ba’ja may have been inhabited by semi-nomadic peoples who subsisted on agriculture and herding. It’s not clear why humans switched from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle. One possible factor contributing to the shift to a sedentary lifestyle could be the availability of fertile soil, water and other resources. There were also the development of new technologies, such as irrigation systems and farm implements, and changes in social and cultural practices, such as the emergence of more sophisticated methods of trade and exchange.
What is special about Jamila’s grave is that she was buried with love and care. Archaeologists also found a stunning necklace of 2,500 beads around her neck, now considered one of the most important Neolithic finds. The discovery of this humble tomb has now changed — and challenged — many preconceived notions about how Neolithic people lived.
For example, the discovery of pearls in remote areas speaks volumes about how things have changed. The origin of the beads from distant regions suggests a trade, and the level of craftsmanship with which this necklace was made is evidence of the skilled artisans in the Baja community. Ba’ja residents must have had a steady and secure food supply because they had time to build permanent structures, develop social traditions (such as burials), and craft fine jewelry and other furniture.
The necklace was extensively rebuilt in Germany. After a two-year delay due to the global pandemic, it is back in Jordan, where it is on display at the newly opened Petra Museum. Archaeological work at Ba’ja also continued, where another tomb and a necklace were found. No doubt it will continue to provide important insights into the beliefs and practices of peoples living in the Neolithic Age.
Directed by: Barbara Puskas
