Ajloun — The water springs in the village of Arjan in Ajloun Governorate once served as a primary resource that residents relied upon in the past, used for drinking, watering livestock, meeting household needs, and irrigating orchards.
اضافة اعلان
Specialists and residents of the area affirmed, in remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), the importance of documenting the names of these springs and the stories associated with them, raising awareness of their role in the village's social and agricultural life, and making use of them within tourist trails.
One of Arjan village's notables, Saleh Zeitoun, said that residents in the past relied on the water springs for drinking, watering animals, and meeting household needs.
He added that women used to go to the springs to fetch water and wash clothes and household items, noting that these sites served as a space for gathering and connection among the village's residents.
Resident Ahmad Al-Sawalmeh said that the names of the springs, their locations, and the paths of the water have remained known among the area's residents, passed down generation after generation, explaining that people knew which springs served each area and which lands their water reached.
He added that these water paths helped bring water to the lands and orchards, and helped farmers make use of it in their agricultural work.
Heritage researcher Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sharida said that the water springs represent part of the local heritage, tied as they are to social and agricultural customs and practices that formed part of village life in earlier periods.
He added that documenting their names and the stories associated with them helps preserve part of the local memory and pass its details on to new generations.
Tour guide Issa Al-Sharaa said that Wadi Al-Rayyan in Arjan contains around 13 springs, the most notable of which are Ain Al-Tannour, Ain Al-Baida, Ain Al-Fawqa, and Ain Al-Tahta, noting that these springs form part of the area's natural and touristic assets.
He added that including them within tourist trails, and raising awareness of their history and traditional uses, enhances the visitor experience and ties tourism to Arjan's natural and cultural heritage.
Member of the "Oasis of Thought and Creativity" initiative Ruaa Zeitoun said that young people can help raise awareness of Arjan's springs by photographing the sites, recording the accounts of elderly residents, and producing digital content about them.
She added that using digital platforms to share the stories of these sites helps bring their stories to a wider audience and encourages new generations to learn about the village's history and heritage. — (Petra)
