PEF Activities in Jordan in 2003:
The Zoara Project
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International Wadi Farasa Project
Zoara Survey and Excavation Project
Excavations at El-Khasneh (The Treasury), Petra
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Following the pilot season conducted at the beginning of 2002 (ADAJ 2002: 591-614), all excavated and exposed ancient structures were consolidated and/or backfilled. More substantial excavations were conducted during the 2002-2003 season at Tawahin es-Sukkar (area A) and at the south-western edges of the Khirbet Sheik ‘Isa site (area C), where a major underground irrigation trench was being laid by the Jordan Valley Authority. Although this activity was disruptive to the site, it offered an opportunity to reveal the depth of occupation of up to 3 metres.
The southern extent of the city walls was exposed, as well as a number of rooms, including one with standing columns, steps and an in situ architectural stone inscribed in ca 6th century AD Greek. In the far south-western part of the excavation marble chancel posts and decorated column fragments were found re-used as building material, indicating the probable presence of a church area. This would corroborate literary sources, which mention Zoara as the seat of a bishop.
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One of the excavated chambers in Area A contains a large millstone (the Tawahin es-Sukkar, literally ‘sugar millstone’). |
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| Schematic representation of possible position for gearing mechanism lying above the mill base and driving the vertical wheel. This diagram accounts for the presence of two or more beams slotting into the walls of the room. | Schematic representation of an alternative position for gearing mechanism lying below the mill base within the Lower Room. No overlying beams appear to be necessary in this setup. |
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Polychrome glass bracelets found in this locality, and dating from the 15th century AD |
A wider survey of the
fields and slopes around the main sites was also conducted during
2002-2003. Identifying the limits of the sites was a priority, as most of
the area is under agricultural activity and not officially claimed as
antiquity land. The surrounding agricultural fields were investigated in
an attempt to discern the ancient field system. Unfortunately much has
already been disrupted, but by closer inspection of aerial photographs made
in 1961 and earlier some of the ancient boundaries may be identified.
Several of the areas seen on the photos were verified on the ground,
revealing Iron Age, Late Roman, Byzantine and Medieval occupation.
During a survey up the Wadi al-Hasa, at the mouth of which the entire Ghor es-Safi sits, a large water
conduit was found cut into the south bank. At the eastern end of this
conduit a Nabataean inscription was carved on the rock face. This may have
marked the location of a dam, now breached. These finds have not been
previously recorded. Visits were also made to the large fortress of Umm
Tawabeen on the south bank of the Wadi al-Hasa, and the newly identified
ancient road leading up the Wadi Sarmuj, north of the Wadi al-Hasa, to the
eastern plateau. On the basis of surface finds the sites were dated back at
least to the 1st century AD. At the mouth of the Wadi Sarmuj a robbed-out cairn tomb with Middle Bronze
Age II pottery sherds and similar structure to those found at Deir ‘Ain
‘Abata were
also discovered.
All finds from the early
2002 pilot season and the 2002-2003 season of work were sorted and
documented. Pottery, glass and inscriptions were analysed by specialists.
Metalwork, animal, fish and botanical remains are outstanding. The initial
results, though, revealed fine imported wares from Syria and Egypt,
indicating wide trading relations and reflecting a wealthy and
sophisticated urban community during the Byzantine and Medieval periods
based on specialised agricultural products such as dates, indigo and
sugarcane.