The Southern Transjordan Edomite Plateau and the Dead Sea Rift Valley: The Bronze Age to the Islamic Period (3800/3700 BC–AD 1917)

153 Pages·2015·14.03 MB·English

by  Burton MacDonald

T Southern tranSJordan
he
edomite Plateau
and the
dead Sea rift Valley
the Bronze age to the islamic Period
(3800/3700 BC–ad 1917)
Burton MacDonalD
Oxbow Books
Oxford & Philadelphia
Published in the United Kingdom in 2015 by
OXBOW BOOKS
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and in the United States by
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© Oxbow Books and the individual authors 2015
Hardcover Edition: ISBN 978-1-78297-832-9
Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-78297-814-5; Mobi Edition: ISBN 978-1-78297-834-3;
PDF Edition: ISBN 978-1-78297-835-0
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
MacDonald, Burton, 1939-
The Southern Transjordan edomite Plateau and the Dead Sea Rift Valley : the Bronze Age to the
Islamic period (3800/3700 BC-AD 1917) / Burton MacDonald. -- Hardcover edition.
1 online resource.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not
viewed.
ISBN 978-1-78297-833-6 (epub) -- ISBN 978-1-78297-834-3 (prc) -- ISBN 978-1-78297-835-0 (
pdf) -- ISBN 978-1-78297-832-9 1. Jordan--Antiquities. 2. Excavations (Archaeology)--Jordan.
I. Title.
DS153.3
956.95--dc23
2015010573
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
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and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher in writing.
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Front cover: Treasury, Petra (photo by Jane Taylor)
Back cover: Central Petra from Umm al-Biyara (photo by Jane Taylor [J756-10])
CONtENtS
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................................v
List of Plates .........................................................................................................................................................vi
Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................vii
Abbreviations and Symbols ................................................................................................................................viii
Archaeological Periods and Dates ......................................................................................................................viii
Dedication .............................................................................................................................................................ix
Chapter 1: Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 2: Early, middle and Late Bronze Periods (3800/3700–1200 BC) ......................................................12
Chapter 3: Iron I and II Periods (1200–539 BC) ...............................................................................................24
Chapter 4: Persian (539–332 BC) and Hellenistic (and Nabataean) Periods (332–63 BC)...............................42
Chapter 5: Roman (and Nabataean) Period (63 BC–AD 324) ...........................................................................50
Chapter 6: Byzantine Period (AD 324–640) ......................................................................................................70
Chapter 7: Early, middle and Late Islamic Periods (AD 640–1917) .................................................................82
Chapter 8: Summary and Conclusions ...............................................................................................................95
References ..........................................................................................................................................................101
Indices: Sites; Subjects; Biblical Passages ........................................................................................................113
Plates ..................................................................................................................................................................119

LISt OF FIgURES
Fig. 1.1 map of Jordan and with ‘geographical Area of Interest’ Fig. 5.2 map of Roman sites and places mentioned in this chapter
indicated. located within and nearby the WHS and tBAS territories
Fig. 1.2 major morphological units of Jordan. Fig. 5.3 map of Roman sites and places mentioned in this chapter
Fig. 1.3 Cross section of two morphological units in the Faynan located within and nearby the SAAS and ARNAS
region. Adapted from Ravek and Shemida 2000. territories and the Petra region. the WmWSWP coverage
Fig. 1.4 Plant geographical territories of Jordan. area is indicated.
Fig. 1.5 territories covered by WHS, tBAS, SAAS, ARNAS, and Fig. 5.4 Nabataean Wine Press from the Beidha area. Image
SgNAS projects. courtesy of Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos.
Fig. 2.1 map of Bronze Age sites and places mentioned in this Fig. 5.5 Plan of the city of Petra. Adapted from the Petra National
chapter located within or nearby the WHS territory. trust (http://petranationaltrust.org/UI/ShowContent.
Fig. 2.2 map of Bronze Age sites and places mentioned in this aspx?ContentId=75).
chapter located within or nearby the SAAS territory and Fig. 5.6 map of Roman and Nabataean sites and places mentioned
the Petra region. in this chapter located within and nearby the SgNAS
Fig. 2.3 map of Bronze Age sites and places mentioned in this territory and the Faynan region.
chapter located within or nearby the SgNAS territory Fig. 6.1 map of Byzantine sites and places mentioned in this
and the Faynan region. the area of the Southeast `Araba chapter located within and nearby the WHS and tBAS
Archaeological Survey territory is indicated. territories.
Fig. 2.4 map of the possible route for the transport of copper ore Fig. 6.2 map of Byzantine sites and places mentioned in this
products. chapter located within and nearby the SAAS and ARNAS
Fig. 3.1 map of Iron Age sites and places mentioned in this chapter territories and the Petra region.
located within and nearby the WHS and tBAS territories. Fig. 6.3 map of Byzantine sites and places mentioned in this
Fig. 3.2 map of Iron Age sites and places mentioned in this chapter located within the SgNAS territory and the
chapter located within and nearby the SAAS and ARNAS Faynan region.
territories and the Petra region. Fig. 7.1 map of Islamic sites and places mentioned in this chapter
Fig. 3.3 map of Iron Age sites and places mentioned in this chapter located on the Southern transjordan Plateau.
located within the SgNAS territory and the Faynan region. Fig. 7.2 map of Islamic sites and places mentioned in this chapter
Fig. 4.1 map of Persian and Hellenistic sites and places mentioned located within the SgNAS territory and the Faynan
in this chapter. region.
Fig. 5.1 map of the routes of the Via Nova traiana in the territory
of interest. Adapted from Fiema 1997.
LISt OF PLAtES
Plate 1 Wadi al-Hasa, central area, looking south towards the southern Plate 24 BDP: pilaster capital with the head of Pan from the
transjordan/Edomite Plateau (APAAmE_20020930_DLK- Dionysian Hall (photo by Patricia m. Bikai)
0090.jpg) Plate 25 Central Petra from Umm al-Biyara (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 2 Steppe area in eastern segment of the southern transjordan/ [J756-10])
Edomite Plateau (photo by Scott Quaintance) Plate 26 great temple/great Palace/Audience Hall (?), Petra, from
Plate 3 Wadi al-Hasa, as-Safi, farms and mountains in the Dead Umm al-Biyara (photo by Jane taylor)
Sea Rift Valley, looking northeast (photo by Jane taylor Plate 27 Nabataean Pottery, Petra (photo by Jane taylor [J166-10-
[aerial J104-10-98.jpg]) 99])
Plate 4 Wadi `Arabah, west of Petra in the Dead Sea Rift Valley Plate 28 Qasr al-Bint, Petra (photo by Jane taylor [J3024-11])
(photo by Jane taylor) Plate 29 temple of the Winged Lions, Petra (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 5 `Ayn `Uneiq (ARNAS Site 71), spring area on the southern [7588-10])
transjordan Pleateau (photo by Scott Quaintance) Plate 30 great temple/great Palace/Audience Hall (?) (photo by
Plate 6 Circular enclosure (ARNAS Site 342) (photo by Scott Jane taylor [J3082-11.jpg])
Quaintance) Plate 31 Nabataean sculpture and inscription, carved goddess of
Plate 7 As-Safi, farmlands and Dead Sea, looking west (photo Hayyan son of Nybat, Petra (photo by Jane taylor [J157-
by Jane taylor [J68a-15-98]) 1-99])
Plate 8 Kh. Hamrat Ifdan (APAAmE_20111013_RHB-0300.jpg) Plate 32 Carved Nabataean inscription from Petra, indicating
Plate 9 temple Steps, Busayra (photo by Piotr Bienkowski) Aretas IV(?)’s claim to the throne (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 10 Babylonian relief, carved on cliff at as-Sila` (photo by [J166-10-99])
Jane taylor [J154a-16-98]) Plate 33 treasury, Petra (photo by Jane taylor)
Plate 11 Umm al-Biyara, from colonnade street, central Petra Plate 34 Umm al-Biyara, Roman/Nabataean bath (photo by Piotr
(photo by Piotr Bienkowski [P1000639]) Bienkowski [J7549-10lr])
Plate 12 Umm al-Biyara, Edomite settlement (photo by Jane taylor Plate 35 Umm al-Biyara, Nabataean Shrine, dedicated to “Zeus
[J7564-10.jpg]) Holy Saviour” (photo by Jane taylor)
Plate 13 Seal impression from Umm al-Biyara (photo by Piotr Plate 36 Khatt Shabib (APAAmE_20051002_RHB-0073.jpg)
Bienkowski) Plate 37 Petra Church, mosaic South Aisle (ACOR Archives).
Plate 14 Kh. an-Nahas (APAAmE_20111013_RHB-0300.jpg) Plate 38 mosaic close-up, Petra Church (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 15 Cuneiform tablet from tawilan (photo by Piotr [J5150-09])
Bienkowski) Plate 39 mosaic close-up, Petra Church (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 16 three Hismaic inscriptions, rock drawings and tribal [J5154-09])
markings (ARNAS Site 355; photo by Scott Quaintance) Plate 40 mosaic close-up, Petra Church (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 17 Kh. ad-Dharih, aerial (photo by Jane taylor [J30a-6-98]) [J5157-09])
Plate 18 gemini from Kh. ad-Dharih (photo by Jane taylor [J128- Plate 41 mosaic close-up, Petra Church (photo by Hilary Hatcher
2-98]) [2010])
Plate 19 Da`janiya (APAAmE_20090930_DLK-0428.jpg) Plate 42 Blue Chapel, Petra (photo by Hilary Hatcher [2010])
Plate 20 Udhruh (APAAmE_20020930_DLK-0283.jpg) Plate 43 the monastery/Ad-Dayr, Petra (photo by Jane taylor
Plate 21 Beidha Documentation Project (BDP): monument in [aerial J150-2-85])
Amti Canyon, possibly dedicated to Dionysius; it was Plate 44 Urn tomb (photo by Hilary Hatcher [2010])
apparently surrounded by vineyards and there are wine Plate 45 Jabal Haroun, Aaron’s tomb and monastery (photo by
presses nearby; it is approached by a wide walkway Jane taylor [J7195-10.jpg])
coming along the far side of the canyon and then across, Plate 46 As-Safi, from Dayr `Ayn `Abata, in the Dead Sea Rift
facing east (photo by Fraser Parsons) Valley, looking southwest (photo by Jane taylor)
Plate 22 BDP: view to the west of the Dionysian Hall (photo by Plate 47 Ash-Shawbak Castle (APAAmE_20090930_DLK-0181.jpg)
Fraser Parsons) Plate 48 Qal`at al-Hasa (APAAmE_20070417_FFR-0327.jpg)
Plate 23 BDP: reconstruction of the first floor of the Dionysian Plate 49 Bir Hamid (ARNAS Site 241), traditional, agricultural
Hall, facing west; compare to Plate 22 (drawing by south Jordan Ottoman village (photo by Scott Quaintance)
Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos)
ACKNOWLEDgEmENtS
the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR), Amman, produce most of the maps in the work. In addition, Hilary
awarded me a Publication Fellowship for the period January– copy edited the work, made many helpful suggestions relative
April 2013. During that time, while in residence at ACOR, to improving the work, and ultimately saved me from many
I was able to complete most of the library research for inconsistencies and errors.
this work. In addition, an association with the Department
of Near and middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Relative to the photo segment of this work, Jane taylor
toronto, during the winter months of 2014, provided me ([email protected]) and APAAME (www.flickr.com/
with the time and library resources for the completion of the apaame/collections [www.apaame.org]) provided most of
work, including copy-editing and production of illustrations. the images. their contribution is supplemented by photos
I acknowledge the assistance and graciousness of personnel from/by the ACOR Archives, Piotr Bienkowski, Patricia
from both institutions. Bikai, Hilary Hatcher, Fraser Parsons and Scott Quaintance.
In addition to the above, Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos
this work is ultimately dependent upon permission received and Patricia Bikai, Beidha Documentation Project, gave
from Jordan’s Department of Antiquities to carry out work in permission to reproduce two of their drawings.
southern Jordan over a period of more than 30 years. moreover,
I also acknowledge the work of dozens of scholars who have the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New
published their research on the archaeology and history of the Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989, by the Division
territory that is of primary interest in this publication. these of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches
individuals are referenced throughout the work. of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Rudaina al-momani, ACOR and CBRL, supplied the
shapefile of the wadis for inclusion in the maps found in As usual, Rosemarie Sampson followed all aspects of this
this volume. Hilary Hatcher worked with the shapefile to work. to her, I am continually grateful.
ABBREVIAtIONS AND SymBOLS
ACOR American Center of Oriental Research N North
APAAmE Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Nab Nabataean
middle East NEPP North-Eastern Petra Project
ARNAS the Ayl to Ras an-Naqab Archaeological Survey NHg Naturhistorische gesellschaft Nürnberg/Natural
asl above sea level History museum of Nürnberg
B Bronze NRA Natural Resources Authority
bods body sherds NRSV New Revised Standard Version
BDP Beidha Documentation Project Per Persian
BP or bp Before the present, that is, before AD 1950 poss possible
bsl below sea level prob probable/probably
Byz Byzantine RHB Robert H. Bewley
c. about/around Rom Roman
CBRL Council for British Research in the Levant RS(s) Random Square(s)
Chal Chalcolithic S South
Class Classical SAAS Shammakh to Ayl Archaeological Survey
DLK David L. Kennedy SgNAS Southern ghors and Northeast `Arabah Archaeological
DLS Dolomite Limestone Shales Survey
E Early/East SJIAP South Jordan Iron Age II Survey and Excavation
ED European Datum 1950 Project
ELRAP Edom Lowlands Regional Archaeology Project TBAS Tafila – Busayra Archaeological Survey
EPI Epipaleolithic U Upper
FFR Francesca F. Radcliffe UAP Udhruh Archaeological Project
FJHP Finnish Jabal Haroun Project UD Un-diagnostic
gIS geographic Information System W West
gPS global Positioning System WF Wadi Faynan
Hell Hellenistic WFLS Wadi Faynan Landscape Survey
Isl Islamic WgS World geodetic System 1984
Kh. Khirbat WHS Wadi al-Hasa Archaeological Survey
L Late/Lower/Looking WmWSWP Wadi musa Water Supply and Wastewater Project
L2HE Lowlands to Highlands of Edom Project / either/or
m middle # number
mBS massive Brown Sandstone – through/to
mod modern
ARCHAEOLOgICAL PERIODS AND DAtES
Bronze Period (3800/3700–1200 BC) Hellenistic (and Nabataean) Period (332–63 BC)
Early Bronze I (3800/3700–3100/3000 BC) Roman (and Nabataean) Period (63 BC–AD 324)
Early Bronze II (3100/3000–2900/2800 BC) Early Roman (63 BC–AD 135)
Early Bronze III (2900/2800–2300 BC) Late Roman (AD 135–324)
Early Bronze IV (2300–2000 BC) Byzantine Period (AD 324–640)
middle Bronze (2000–1550 BC) Early Byzantine (324–500)
Late Bronze (1550–1200 BC) Late Byzantine (500–640)
Iron Period (1200–539 BC) Islamic Period (AD 640–1917)
Iron I (1200–1000 BC) Early Islamic (AD 640–1099)
Iron II (1000–539 BC) middle Islamic (AD 1099–1517)
Persian Period (539–332 BC) Late Islamic (AD 1517–1917)
Classical Period (Hellenistic–Byzantine) (332 BC–AD 640) modern Period (AD 1917–Present)
Dedicated to
geoff, Larry, and Scott