Jordan unearths Iron Age temple

Antiquities chief Ziad al-Saad said archaeologists unearthed the eighth century BC sanctuary at Khirbat 'Ataroz near the town of Mabada, 32km southwest of the capital Amman.

The temple was composed of a main room measuring 9 metres by 4 metres, as well as two antechambers and an open courtyard, Mr al-Saad said.

The sanctuary and its artifacts - hewn from limestone and basalt or moulded from clay and bronze - show the complex religious rituals of Jordan's ancient biblical Moabite kingdom, according to Mr al-Saad.

"Today we have the material evidence, the archaeological proof of the level of advancement of technology and civilisation at that period of time," he said.

The Moabites, whose kingdom ran along present-day Jordan's mountainous eastern shore of the Dead Sea, were closely related to the Israelites, although the two were in frequent conflict. The Babylonians eventually conquered the Moabites in 582BC.

Archaeologists also unearthed some 300 pots, figurines of deities and sacred vessels used for worship at the site. Al-Saad said it was rare to discover so many Iron Age items in one place.

Excavations began in Khirbat 'Ataroz in 2000 in cooperation with the California-based La Sierra University, but the majority of the items were only discovered in the past few months.

Among the items on display on Wednesday, there was a four-legged animal god Hadad, as well as delicate circular clay vessels used in holy rites. Mr al-Saad said the objects indicate the Moabites worshipped many deities and had a highly organised ritual use of temples.

The items will be scientifically analysed and conserved before going on display in Jordan's archaeological museum.