Um Al-Rassas

Excavations in Um Al-Rassas  have uncovered some of the finest Byzantine church mosaics, including a large carpet depicting Old and New Testament cities on both the east and west banks of the Jordan River. Another feature at Umm Ar-Rasas walled settlement is a 14 meter high Stylite tower used by early Christian monks seeking solitude, It is probably the last remaining building of this kind, on which strictly ascetic pillar-saints retreated..

From the Roman fort Kastron Mefa'a at the Limes Arabicus and a settlement north of it, a Christian town and important place of pilgrimage developed in the 5th century. Many of the 16 churches have been decorated with mosaic floors, of which some excellent examples can still be seen. Particularly noteworthy is the mosaic floor of the Church of Saint Stephen with its representation of towns in the region.

Because of the outstanding universal value of the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic testimonies from the late 3rd to 9th centuries, Umm er-Rasas was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.