Tall el-Hammam
A huge Bronze Age city proposed as Sodom—and a retracted 'airburst' claim
Found 2005 — Steven Collins (Trinity Southwest University) with the Jordanian Department of Antiquities
Where Tall el-Hammam, southern Jordan Valley, Jordan (Jordan)
Dates from c. 1650 BCE destruction; occupied from Chalcolithic · Middle Bronze II (destruction) · Lot and the cities of the plain (Genesis 13–19)
Now at In situ; finds in Jordanian Department of Antiquities storage
How Tall el-Hammam was found
Known as a mound since 19th-century surveys; Collins began systematic excavation in 2005–06 and has argued the site is Sodom based on its size, location north of the Dead Sea, and a Middle Bronze destruction followed by a long gap in occupation.
What it is
One of the largest Bronze Age sites in the southern Levant, with a fortified upper and lower city, massive mudbrick ramparts, a monumental gateway, and a thick Middle Bronze destruction layer with melted pottery and mudbrick.
Why it matters for the Bible
Collins argues that Genesis 13:10–12 places Sodom in the 'plain' (kikkar) of the Jordan north of the Dead Sea, and that this city's sudden fiery end and centuries-long abandonment fit the story. A 2021 paper in Scientific Reports claimed a cosmic airburst destroyed the city, but the journal retracted it in April 2025 after concerns about its data and methods. Most archaeologists also prefer an Early Bronze date for Sodom or place it south of the Dead Sea, so the identification remains a minority view.
The Hebrew word: kik-KAHR ha-yar-DEN
כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן
כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן is pronounced kik-KAHR ha-yar-DEN and means the plain (disk) of the Jordan (Strong's H3603 + H3383).
People this discovery connects to
- Lot — לוֹט (LOT) — covering
Places
- Sodom — סְדֹם (se-DOM) — burning (traditional)
Events
Lot chooses the plain of the Jordan · Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Tall el-Hammam in Scripture
Genesis 10:19 First mention of Sodom in Scripture.
Genesis 13:10-12 Lot chooses the well-watered plain of the Jordan; Collins reads this as pointing north of the Dead Sea, where Tall el-Hammam lies.
Genesis 19:24-25 Fire from heaven destroys the cities; the site's burnt destruction layer is the basis of the identification.
Questions people ask
What is Tall el-Hammam?
One of the largest Bronze Age sites in the southern Levant, with a fortified upper and lower city, massive mudbrick ramparts, a monumental gateway, and a thick Middle Bronze destruction layer with melted pottery and mudbrick.
When was Tall el-Hammam discovered?
It was found in 2005 by Steven Collins (Trinity Southwest University) with the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, at Tall el-Hammam, southern Jordan Valley, Jordan.
Where is Tall el-Hammam today?
In situ; finds in Jordanian Department of Antiquities storage.
Which Bible verses does Tall el-Hammam relate to?
Genesis 10:19, Genesis 13:10-12, Genesis 19:24-25.
Is Tall el-Hammam authentic?
The site and its destruction are real. The Sodom identification is a minority view; the 2021 airburst paper was retracted by Scientific Reports in 2025.
Related discoveries
- עֵמֶק הַשִּׂדִּיםBab edh-Dhra and NumeiraBurned Early Bronze towns southeast of the Dead Sea
- שַׁעַרTel Dan Canaanite Gate ('Abraham's Gate')A mudbrick arched gateway from the age of the patriarchs
- גִּלְגָּלFoot-Shaped 'Gilgal' EnclosuresIron I stone enclosures in the Jordan Valley shaped like a giant sandal
Sources
- Retraction Note, Scientific Reports (April 2025)
- Collins & Scott, 'Discovering the City of Sodom' (2013)