Ajloun is famous for its historic Ajloun Castle, but that hasn’t stopped the city’s municipality from searching the archaeological site for more treasures.

The city’s Department of Antiquities might not have found gold during its recent excavation work, but it has discovered a sophisticated underground water system at the site of Ajloun Castle, according to the department’s Director, Mohammad Al Shalabi.

Shalabi said that the underground system was used to collect rainwater, which then flowed to wells located inside the castle: 12 of them, to be exact.

The department is planning on spending 146,000 JOD on maintenance work on archaeological sites in Ajloun, according to Shalabi.

Ajloun Castle was built in 1184 by the Ayyubids to defend against the Crusaders. It was built on a hilltop surrounded by a beautiful forest. The Mamluks enlarged the castle in the 13th century.

This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition