ByThe Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey:
Phase 3 (2001)
Figure 1: TBAS Territory |
Introduction:
The third season of the Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey (TBAS) (Figure 1) took place over a six-week period from late April to mid-June 2001.1 The 2001 Season: The principle goal of the 2001 season was to draw as many of the architectural sites that TBAS team members had surveyed during the 1999 (Table 1) and 2000 (Table 2) seasons as possible. |
Table 1: Major Architectural Sites of the TBAS 1999 Season
Site # Site Name Coordinates (E/N) Elev. Periods Represented
001 Kh. al-Harith 751554/3403996 1262 LRom-Byz; Byz; MIsl/LIsl
002 Kh. Qasr ad-Dayr 747700/3410100 1361 Iron II; Byz/EIsl; MIsl-LIsl
004 Kh. al-Fraydays 750424/3406468 1250 Ceramic period lithics; ERom; LRom; Byz
005 Kh. `Ayn al-Beida’ 749196/3407318 1220 Byz; MIsl/LIsl
006 Kh. al-Hananah 748050/3409692 1210 Iron II; Byz; LIsl
009 Kh. `Alaqeh 751181/3409532 1300 Iron II; LRom; Byz; EIsl; LIsl
010 Kh. al-Janin 751300/3404082 1155 Iron Age, poss; LRom-Byz; MIsl; LIsl; MIsl/LIsl; Classical
012 Unknown 751393/3403438 1260 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II; Byz; Byz-EIsl; LIsl, prob
013 Kh. `Arafah 746700/3414000 1060 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II, dom; LRom-Byz; EIsl; Mod
015
Kh. ad-Dayr
746400/3416400
760
Ceramic period lithics; EB (?) bod; Iron II (?); Iron Age, prob;
Nab bod; Byz/EIsl, dom; EIsl; Ud, poss Ott (LIsl)
019 Kh. al-Qur (?) 744496/3413824 1022 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II; Rom; Rom-Byz; LIsl
024 Kh. al-Qarqur 747537/3404792 771 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II; ERom (Nab); Byz; LIsl
026 Qasr al-Qarqur 747926/3404187 820 Ceramic period lithics; Byz; MIsl; LIsl
027 Ad-Dabbeh 747237/3404543 708 Iron II; Rom; MIsl; LIsl
032 Ma`tan 748450/3406800 1140 LIsl
036 Ramsis I 746512/3406221 891 Iron II; Rom; Byz; Byz/EIsl; LIsl, poss
037 Ramsis II 746297/3408841 878 Iron I, poss; Iron II; Rom-Byz
043 Kh. al-Brij 748372/3402478 986 Iron II; Nab
044 Kh. al-Mabrak 747688/3402760 1141 Ceramic period lithics; Chal (?); Iron Age; Rom; Byz
047 Unknown 747356/3403571 1036 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II; Byz
048 `Ayn al-Qrayan 748099/3401567 1162 Byz
049 Kh. al-Fatat 748528/3401279 1200 Iron II; ERom; LRom; Byz; LIsl
050 Kh. Umm Za`urureh 749995/3401406 1245 Iron II; ERom; Byz; LIsl
051 Kh. az-Zanatayeh 750322/3401426 1199 Iron Age; Byz; MIsl/LIsl
059 Unknown 743170/3405944 820 Ceramic period lithics; Iron Age, poss; Byz
061 Rujm al-Musaykahen 743800/3405264 953 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II; ERom (Nab)
062 Qasr Karayim bin `Ali 745330/3403314 1050 Iron II; Byz, prob; Ud, MIsl-LIsl painted ware
065 Unknown 741194/3407803 653 MPL; Byz; LIsl
071 Kh. al-Kula 746932/3403163 1258 Ceramic period lithics; Hell-ERom; Byz; MIsl/LIsl, dom
072 Kh. al-Qa`ayr 746247/3401661 1110 Ceramic period lithics; Late Iron I; Iron II; Byz; Ud
081-83 Kh. al-`Aiys 752542/3414080 1289 Ceramic period lithics; Hell; Rom (Nab); LRom; Byz; LIsl; Mod
086 Kh. Tila`aeh Husayn 755201/3413123 1278 Ceramic period lithics; Rom; Byz, dom; LIsl
087 Kh. Hid 750614/3415205 970 Ceramic period lithics; Iron Age; Rom; Byz; EIsl, prob; LIsl
116
Kh. Hassan
751173/3412378
1199
Early Iron I (all close to LB, if not LB); Iron II;
al-Husayn
Hell, prob (could be LB); Rom/Byz; Ud
117 Kh. Zubre 750942/3408578 1337 Iron II; Iron Age; Byz; EIsl
126 Kh. Naqad 753698/3407925 1344 Early Iron II; Byz/EIsl
130
Kh. Umm Sa`yir/ 744104/3418173
720
Iron II; Byz; LIsl, prob
Kh. as-Slaybayat
132 Tall Busayra 749628/3403378 1110 Early Iron II; Iron II; Rom; Nab; Rom, prob; Byz; EIsl; LIsl; Mod
134 Sela 746614/3408269 856 Iron II; Iron Age; Rom (Nab)
135 Busayra Citadel 749600/3404000 1140 EB, prob; Iron II; Iron Age Ud; Rom-Byz
137
Kh. Um
754110/3406702
1142
Iron II; Rom (Nab); Byz; Ud
al-Malafays
138 Kh. ad-Dabha’ 747986/3415200 807 Byz; LIsl
140 Qasr al-Bint 774914/3397959 1037 MPL, Iron II; ERom; LRom
141
Jurf ad-Darawish 774544/3398590
952
Ceramic period lithics; Ud lithics; Hell-Rom (no Nab)
Castellum
142
Kh. Harir
755812/3408009
1278
Ceramic period lithics; Ud lithics; Chal-EB (?); EB; Iron I; Iron II;
Iron Age; ERom (Nab); Rom; Byz; MIsl/LIsl
142 Kh. Harir 755800/3408170 1289 Chal-EB; EB; Iron I; Iron II; Iron Age; ERom; Rom; Byz; MIsl/LIsl
143 Kh.
Umm
756204/3407669
1317
Iron Age; Rom; Byz; MIsl/LIsl
al-Harmal
147 Kh. Masala 755907/3406831 1337 Iron Age, poss; Byz
151 Qal`at
at-Tafila 748918/3414717
1067
Iron II; Iron Age; Rom; Byz, dom; EIsl; LIsl; Ud
Table 2: Major Architectural Sites of the 2000 Season
Site# Site Name Coordinates (E/N) Elev. Periods Represented
157 Kh. Umm Sarab 752528/3403485 1280 Iron II; Byz; EIsl; MIsl/LIsl
159 Kh. Ibn Hadayyah 754787/3402326 1482 Late NL/Chal/EB lithics; EB; Byz
160 Kh. ash-Shariya`ah 755615/3403870 1448 Iron II; ERom (Nab); LRom; Byz; LIsl
164 Kh. at-Tawlaniyah
7564331/3405499
1444
Ceramic period lithics (?); ERom (Nab); LRom;
Byz; LIsl, prob
166 Kh. al-Friij 754747/3410120 1358 ERom (Nab); Byz; MIsl/LIsl
167 Kh. al-`Adawayn 757118/3415538 1167 Iron II; ERom (Nab); LRom; Byz; EIsl; MIsl/LIsl
168 Kh. an-Nasraniyah
756822/3413400
1203
Ceramic period lithics; Iron II; Rom, poss;
Byz, dom
169 Kh. as-Sayir 757684/3413552 1185 Iron II; Byz; MIsl and/or LIsl
170 Kh. `Abur 759705/3410519 1276 Iron Age I/II; ERom; Byz; MIsl/LIsl
173 Kh. al-Friij 755567/3410820 1337 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II, poss; Byz
176 Rujm
757951/3408115
1377
Ceramic period lithics; Iron II, prob; Byz; LIsl
ath-Thalithuwat
177 Kh. Mughamis 756562/3408277 1385 Ceramic period lithics; Iron II, dom; MIsl/LIsl
178 Unknown 763033/3411991 1168 Ceramic period lithics; ERom (Nab); Byz
180 Via Nova Traiana Roman Road Roman
182 Unknown 762786/3411672 1155 Ceramic period lithics; ERom (Nab); Byz
183 Qasr al-Basha
762649/3410510
1192
Ceramic period lithics; ERom (Nab); Byz;
MIsl/LIsl
186 Khatt Shabib
764354/3411384
1178
Neither lithics nor ceramics (within RS 26, Zone
2) collected
190 Kh.
760103/3403436
1325 Ceramic
period lithics; ERom; LRom; Byz dom;
al-Khunaysrah
MIsl
192 Kh. at-Tuwanah
760865/3405214
1243 Ceramic period
lithics (?); Iron
Via Nova Traiana
II, prob; ERom (Nab); Byz; EIsl; MIsl/LIsl
196 Unknown 759150/3405850 1280 Neither lithics nor sherds found
248 Unknown 777124/3404612 930 Iron II; Rom-Byz
251 Rujm al-Haj 776609/3404869 933 Ceramic period lithics; Byz
259 Rujm al-Qiran
766098/3401378
1363 Ceramic period
lithics; Iron II; ERom (Nab);
LRom; Byz
260 Rujm al-Hamra 767686/3408782 1155 Iron Age; Rom; Byz, dom
268 Unknown 777275/3405906 900 Byz; MIsl-LIsl
272 Rujm Umm
764673/3416771
1167 Ceramic period
lithics; Iron II; Rom; Byz
az-`Azam
273 Kh. ad-Dabbah
759819/3400256
1480 Ceramic period
lithics; Late Iron II, poss; ERom;
LRom; Byz; MIsl
The intention was to draw various types of sites or actually structures at sites, e.g., domestic quarters, watchtowers, forts, in the various zones of the survey territory. TBAS team members realized that it would not be possible to draw an entire village site in the allotted time-period and they thus had to be content with drawing only one, but in some cases two, structure(s) at such a site. At many sites, however, although there were many architectural features, it was not possible to do a convincing drawing of even one structure because of its condition.
No attempt was made to draw any of the architectural remains at Sela, Site 134, since Hamed K. Qatamin, Mutah University, was excavating the site at the time of the 2001 infield season. In addition, Bennett had excavated the Busayra Citadel, Site 135, and Bienkowski (2002) has prepared a final report on these excavations. Thus, a drawing of a structure from this site would have been superfluous.
As a result of the season’s work, TBAS team members completed 42 drawings
at 36 sites (Table 3). As Table 4 indicates, two drawings were done at
six sites. In addition, team members did measurements at one site, namely,
Jurf ad-Darawish Castellum, Site 141, at which it was not possible to do
a drawing because of erosion and silting.
Table 3: Structures Drawn during the 2001 Season
SITE# SITE NAME STRUCTURE DRAWN
051 Kh. az-Zanatayeh Rectilinear structure at village site
050 Kh. Umm Za’urureh Rectilinear structure/watchtower (?) at village site
062 Qasr Karayim bin `Ali Rectilinear structure
071 Kh. al-Kula Structure built of large stones at village site
049 Kh. al-Fatat Rectilinear structures at village site
026 Qasr al-Qarqur Fort (?)
001 Kh. al-Harith Rectilinear structure at village site
005 Kh. `Ayn al-Beida’ Rectilinear structure (church ?)
006 Kh. Hananah Small, rectilinear structure
004 Kh. Fraydays Large, rectilinear structure at village site
157 Kh. Umm Sarab Rectilinear structure (church ?)
036 Ramsis I Fort (?)
126 Kh. Nagad Watchtower (?) at village site
142 Kh. Harir Dwelling (?) and rock-cut tombs at village site
172 Unknown Rock-cut tombs - robbed
147 Kh. Masala Watchtower (?) and cistern at village site
164 Kh. at-Tawlaniyah Fort/Watchtower
177 Kh. Mughamis Fortress
268 Unknown Watchtower/Tomb
251 Rujm al-Haj Watchtower/Tomb
117 Kh. Zubre Watchtower (?) at village site
009 Kh. `Alaqeh Large, rectilinear structure at village site
130
Kh. Umm Sa’yir/
Watchtower and/or agricultural facility
Kh. as-Slaybayat
192 Kh. at-Tuwanah Caravanserai (?) and dwelling at town site
182 Unknown Watchtower (?)/Robbed Tomb
183 Qasr al-Basha Complex of rectilinear structures at caravanserai
170 `Abur Large, rectilinear structure at village site
190 Kh. al-Khunaysrah Agricultural facility at fort (?)
211 Unknown Circular enclosure
239 Unknown Water catchment facilities
233 Unknown Circular enclosure
232 Unknown Circular enclosure
282 Unknown Circular enclosure
260 Rujm al-Hamra Watchtower
169 Kh. as-Sayir Large, rectilinear structure at village site
012
Unknown
Rectilinear Structure (church ?)
Table 4: Sites at which Two Drawings were Done
Site # Site Name Structure(s) drawn
005 Kh. `Ayn al-Beida’ Possible church and lintel over west end of structure
049 Kh. al-Fatat One major structure and one associated with a cistern/cave
142 Kh. Harir One residential structure and one series of rock-cut tombs
147 Kh. Masala One watchtower and one cistern
192 Kh. at-Tuwanah One possible caravanserai and one residential building
239
Unknown
Two water-catchment facilities
The intention is to publish as many of these drawings as possible in
the final report on the TBAS. Samples of these drawings are given here:
Site 1, Kh. al-Harith (Figure 2), Site 5, `Ayn al-Beida’ (Figure 3), Site
172 (Figure 4; Photo 1), and Site 192, Kh. at-Tuwanah (Figure 5; Photo
2) as possible In the final report on the TBAS, Samples of these drawings
are presented as Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Figure 2: Al-Harith |
Figure 3: `Ayn al-Beida’ |
Figure 4: Site 172 |
Figure 5: Kh. at-Tuwanah |
Acknowledgements:
TBAS team members wish to thank Dr. Fawwaz al-Khraysheh, Director-General, Department of Antiquities, for granting permission to carry out this third infield season of the project. Gratitude is also expressed to staff members of the Department of Antiquities and especially to Jihad Daraweesh of the department’s At-Tafila office.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Joukowsky Family Foundation, and the University Council for Research of St. Francis Xavier University provided funding for both the infield work and subsequent analyses.
Once again Dr. Pierre Bikai, director, and the staff of the American
Center of Oriental Research in Amman provided assistance to and a home
base for TBAS team members.
Notes:
1. Reports on the 1999 and 2000 seasons of the TBAS can be found in MacDonald et al. 2000 and MacDonald et al. 2001 respectively.
Team members for the 2001 season were Burton MacDonald, director; Wayne
Sawtell, architect; Zeyad Salamin, architect’s assitant; Jihad Dawweesh,
Representative of the Department of Antiquities; and Aladdin Madi, cook.
References:
Bienkowsi, P.
2002
Busayra: Excavations by Crystal-M. Bennett 1971-1980. British Academy
Monographs in
Archaeology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
MacDonald, B. et al.
The Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey: Phase 1 (1999). ADAJ 44: 507-22.
MacDonald, B. et al.
The Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey: Phase 2 (2000). ADAJ 45: ?-?.
Burton MacDonald, Ph.D.
Director, Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey,
Department of Religious Studies,
P. O. Box 5000,
St. Francis Xavier University,
Antigonish, Nova Scotia. B2G 2W5
Fax: 902-867-2448
E-mail: bmacdona@stfx.ca
Websites: http://www.stfx.ca/people/bmacdona/tbasweb/welcome.htm
http://www.stfx.ca/people/bmacdona/welcome.html