1. Introduction : the singularity of the Jordan Rift Valley -- 2. History of ideas and research -- 3. The Jordan Rift Valley at present -- 4. The Pre-Neogene geology of the Near East -- 5. The lithostratigraphy of the embryonic and eritrean stages -- 6. Palynostratigraphy, continuous sequences and unconformities -- 7. Chronostratigraphy, paleogeography and environments of the embryonic and eritrean stages -- 8. Geophysics -- 9. Structural history -- 10. Tectonics : models and debates -- 11. Stratigraphy of the artifact-bearing sequences -- 12. Paleoecology of man.