Umm El-Jimal - Demographics

Demographics

The estimated population during the Nabataean period is unknown, because evidence of a residential community was obliterated by the later construction phases. However, because the town was likely a major trading post along the same route as Bostra, the population could have been several thousand strong. Numerous Nabataean and Greek tomb stones testify to their presence. Based on the number of structures, the peak population was likely in the sixth century perhaps 3,000-7,000 people. In the Byzantine and Umayyad periods houses were occupied by both people and pastoral animals. In the Umayyad period a smaller number survived at Umm el-Jimal. While some buildings were not occupied, it was still a prosperous place and some new farmstead-type houses were constructed with characteristic Umayyad mangers. By A.D. 900 the town was abandoned. It is unknown as to why, but it was most likely due to the same reasons that the greater population of Syria decreased; i.e., plague, draught, earthquakes, etc. (B. de Vries). Aside from these basic numbers, the general range of poor to wealthy households is largely unknown for most of the different eras of occupation. The location of the site suggests that it was rather small, but the number of buildings and churches suggest otherwise (de Vries, Bert).