Umm al Jimal encompasses a vast swath of land, containing an entire city that has been occupied since Nabatean times. One of the primary goals of SCHEP-supported work in Umm al Jimal was to establish paths and signage for visitors to guide them through the site.
With the help of the local community and the support of SCHEP, the Umm el-Jimal Archaeological Project (UJAP) cleared rubble throughout the area to create a trail that will lead tourists and locals to some of the most important points of interest throughout the ancient city. SCHEP also supported the production and installation of more than 33 interpretive panels along the trail, each with vital information about the architecture, history, flora and fauna, and other aspects of the site itself. These allow visitors the chance to give themselves a self-guided tour and learn about the city.
UJAP also worked to preserve or reconstruct and present the area of the ruins close to the modern town of Umm al Jimal in order to direct guests to commercial areas and provide the best possible linkages between historical and present-day cities. One significant effort was the rebuilding of the Commodus Gate, which will serve as the primary entrance to the archaeological site. The structure had collapsed over time, but with the help of experts as well as local community members, and the support of SCHEP, the UJAP team was able to restore it. This important structure will be one key feature of the new entrance park for the site, still in development as of the end of SCHEP’s first phase in 2018.

To access a digital copy of the interpretive signs produced for this site with SCHEP support, click here.

For more information about SCHEP work at Umm al Jimal from 2014 to 2018, see our publication, The Story of SCHEP, 2014-2018.