The Qafsa ruins, located within the lands of Al-Wahadneh in Ajloun Governorate, preserve archaeological and historical evidence dating back to different periods. The remains of old buildings, places of worship, wells and an olive press reveal aspects of the population’s life and agricultural activities in the area before settlement there began to decline.
اضافة اعلان
Ajloun Culture Director Samer Frihat said Qafsa is one of the historical sites associated with rural life in the governorate. He noted that the surviving landmarks offer insight into former patterns of settlement, agricultural work and the ways residents made use of natural resources.
He added that documenting the history of old villages and ruins requires attention to historical information and inherited accounts, particularly those concerning residents’ lives, customs and ways of living, which form part of Ajloun Governorate’s cultural and social heritage.
Meanwhile, Basma Al-Amoush, head of the Shafa Municipal Committee, said Qafsa is an ancient site within the lands of Al-Wahadneh. Its name remains familiar to local residents as the name of one of the area’s agricultural basins. She noted that such place names have continued to be used despite changes affecting old settlements.
She explained that the people of Al-Wahadneh have maintained their connection to Qafsa’s land through agricultural activity, adding that the ruins’ history forms part of the history of the Shafa area and the villages whose residents have relied on the land and farming over different periods.
Heritage researcher and Al-Wahadneh native Dr. Mahmoud Al-Shuraideh said Qafsa is one of the old villages that witnessed population settlement and agricultural activity across different historical periods. He noted that the remains of buildings and places of worship, along with the olive press and rock-cut wells, are among the most prominent surviving features linked to the site’s history.
He added that historical sources mention Qafsa as one of the villages inhabited in ancient times, with residents relying on growing grain and olives and raising livestock, taking advantage of the fertile lands surrounding the ruins.
Photographer Mohammad Al-Za’arir said documenting old sites through
photography involves more than capturing buildings and archaeological remains; it also includes recording the surrounding landscape and valleys. He noted that combining images of landmarks with wider views of the area helps illustrate the relationship between ancient settlements and the agricultural environment on which residents depended.
Yousef Al-Samadi, founder of the “A Place’s Story” initiative, said documenting old villages and ruins relies on gathering historical information and listening to accounts passed down by local residents. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between information found in historical sources and stories about places and their inhabitants preserved in collective memory.
He added that the initiative documents local heritage through photography, video and media storytelling, focusing on the history of old sites, place names and the lives of their former residents. Its aim is to present this material in an accessible way that connects historical information with the stories of the local community.
(Petra)
