OCCIDENT & ORIENT NecosLeCfen of the Genman Pnotestant Institute of. AachaeoLogy in Amman

THE GERMAN PROTESTANT INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN AMMAN (DEI) News and Changes

This is the sixth volume of our News­ Goethe-Institute, Amman, the Vorder- Vol. 6, No. 1&2, September 2001 letter Occident &. Orient, but the first asiatisches Museum, Berlin, the Depart­ CONTENTS volume under a new editorship. As ment of Antiquities of Jordan, Amman, most of our valued readers already and Yarmouk University, Irbid. • Late Roman Belt Buckles 2 know, Dr. Hans-Dieter Bienert left the The annual "Lehrkurs" (a group of institute and Jordan at the end of March • Qanawat 3 scholars holding a travel scholarship 2001. He was succeeded by Dr. Ro­ from the DEI) spent three weeks in Jor­ • Words of Appreciation to land Lamprichs, who took office in April dan. They were guided to many ar­ Dr. Hans-Dieter Bienert 6 and was introduced by the church on chaeological sites by the director of the • Welcome to Dr. Roland Lamprichs 7 September, 16th 2001. DEI-Amman and enjoyed the assistance • Fellows in residence 8 The institute's varied activities since and support of several organizations, • Farewell to Mr. Achilles 9 then have included, for example, lo­ authorities and institutes within Jordan. • Resafa (Syria) 9 gistical support for several visiting scho­ A further, very important event in • Digital terrain models examples 12 lars and excavation teams working in recent months was the participation of • Celebrating the Amman Institute 13 Tell Zera" a and Umm Qais, among the institute in the Eighth International • The Jordan Valley Village Project 1 5 others. In cooperation with the Orient Conference on the History and Archae­ • The Biblical Archaeological Section of the German Archaeological Institute of Wuppertal 18 ology of Jordan. It was held at the Uni­ Institute (DAI) and the Department of versity of Sydney under the patronage • Finnish Jabal Harun Project 2000 19 Antiquities (DoA), the signposting in of HRH Prince al-Hassan Bin Talal and • Early Neolithic Gobekli Tepe 21 Umm Qais was al­ HE Dr. Marie Bashir, • Al-Bassah Give near Iraq al-Amir 23 most completed by Governor of New • Conference: Fifth Millenium of the the time of printing South Wales. The Invention of Writing 24 this newsletter. conference was truly • Tell Khanasiri Cave Sounding 25 Thanks to the finan­ international in scope • From Gadara to Tall Knedij 26 cial support of the German embassy in with around 90 pre­ Amman, a new sentations and 125 Published twice a year by the signpost for the so participants from 15 German Protestant Institute called "Rujm al-Mal- countries. The Ger­ of Archaeology in Amman. man Protestant Insti­ POBox 183, Amman 11118, fuf, situated just op­ Jordan. posite the Depart­ tute in Amman was represented by its Tel.5342924, Fax 5336924. ment (DoA) building E-mail: [email protected]. in Amman, is also new director, Dr. Ro­ due to be inaugura­ land Lamprichs, who Editors: Roland Lamprichs and Bernd Miiller-Neuhof. ted shortly. presented a paper Technical and editorial assis­ A workshop con­ entitled Tell Johfiyeh tance: Al Kutba Publishers, cerning scientific and neighbouring Amman, Jordan. Production restoration of diffe­ sites. Part of an Iron by Jean-Claude Eltas. rent materials was The Sydney Conference: Dr. Fawwaz Age defence, trade Newsletter logo above by Khraysheh (left) and Dr. Roland prepared in close Lamprichs in front of the Power or communication Samir Shraydeh. cooperation with the House Museum, Sydney. network?" • 2 OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - SeptemberZOO I

Late Roman Belt Buckles frzom Gadaua/Umm Qais

By: Christoph Eger, German Archaeological Institute, Madrid (Spain)

Jewellery and metal dress-accessories the tongue. At the base like brooches and belt buckles are im• of the loop, a flat, wide, portant aspects of late Roman and By• lightly roof-shaped zantine study, yet they have very rare• tongue is secured; the rec• ly been taken into account up to now. tangular tongue-neck is As grave-goods or - less common - as notched (Fig. 1 b and 2). settlement-waste, these finds provide 2. Belt buckle with hinged, important chronological evidence; also, triangular plate. The fitting they have to be considered as signifi• ends in a circular "appen• cant elements of late Roman and By• dix", on which a rivet is zantine culture. secured. The loop is D- In the course of a two-year research- shaped. The tongue is flat- Fig. 1: a< (right to left) Gadara/Umm Qais (By scholarship from the Deutsche Forsch- wide and like no. 1, it is courtesy of the Department of Antiquities, ungsgemeinschaft (DFG), finds from Jor• rectangularly shaped and Amman). dan, particularly belt buckles, will be bent (Fig. lc). studied and registered. The Depart• 3. Belt buckle with hinged narrow tri• angular plate are specified within the ment of Antiquities Amman kindly angular plate and a rounded loop Roman empire (Schnurbein I977,91f.; gave its agreement to this project. My that was renewed at the tongue base. occurrence in North Africa: Boube-Pic• gratitude goes especially to its Direc• The plate is broken at the base of the cot 1994; to the variants with the firm tor General, Dr. Fawwaz Khraysheh. strap, probably recently. Flat-wide fitting: Swoboda 1986). In Umm Qais Taking stock of the collection in the tongue (Fig. la). itself an unpublished fitting-fragment of that type was found (kind information store-room of the Department of An• Apart from general provenance, more of PD Dr. Th. Weber, Mainz). tiquities in Amman, I came across some information on the finds context is not old finds from Umm Qais that reached available at the moment. All three straps Both belt-buckle forms can be dated the National Museum of Amman in the are in exceptional state of preservation, by numerous other burials found on the first half of the 20th century. Particular• disregarding the usual grade of corro• ly noteworthy are two crossbow- sion and the recently broken fitting in brooches and the three belt buckles the third strip. The reason for the good described below: condition of these buckles is probably 1. Belt buckle with hinged, wide rec• that they were originally found in tangular plate. At the back of the fit• graves. ting are two rivets. The loop is The buckle with wide rectangular grooved to accomodate the tip of plate and bent bow (no. 1) is a widely spread type that covers the whole Ro• man empire. This type is found in the European part of the empire (i. e. Kel• ler 1971; Vago/Bona 1977) as well as

in North Africa, where parallels to the I C T I buckle with bent bow and rectangular i I J7\ plate, are known from Tamuda. Moroc• 1 ' /\ i co. (Boube-Piccot 1994, table 17, 171- J. ^-f&atb 174). The evidence in the Near East is less frequent. Two examples of this buckle-type were found, for example, in the excavations of the place of pil• grimage "dominus flevit" in Jerusalem Fig. 3: Intercisa, south-west cemetery, Fig. 2: Gadara/Umm Qais. Strap with (Bagatti/Milik 1958). Widely spread tomb 49. M. 2:3. (Vago/Bona 1976, 215 rectangular fitting and bent bow. counter-pieces to the buckle with tri- table 5). OCCIDENTS. ORIENT - September2001

Rhine Valley and the Danubian pro• per is part of an article about late Ro• 91-124. vinces. Straps with hinged triangular fit• man and Byzantine costume accesso• Prottel, Ph.M., "Zur Chronologie der tings were combined with coins of the ries in Jordan which will be published Zwiebelknopffibeln." In: Jahrb. RGZM 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. and also with in ADAJ. 35, 1988(1991)347-372. crossbow brooches of Keller type 2 (Schnurbein 1977, 92; for brooches References von Schnurbein, S. "Das romische Keller type 2 see also Prottel 1991). The Graberfeld von Regensburg." Kallmunz/ form belongs mainly to the first half and Bagatti, P.B. and Milik, J.T., "Gil scavi Opf. 1977. del Dominus flevit. " Jerusalem 1958. the middle of the 4th century. The strap Swoboda, R.M., "Zu den spatantiken with the rectangular fitting is also a form Boube-Piccot, Ch. "Les bronzes an• Bronzeschnallen mit festem, dreieck- of the 4th century A.D. Regarding the tiques du Maroc IV. L'equipement mil- igem Beschlag." In: Germania 64/1, variants with bent bows there are com• itaire et l armement." Paris 1994. 1986,91-103. binations with crossbow brooches of Keller, E., "Die spatromischen Grab- types 4 and 5, for example, in the late Tejral, J., "Zur Chronologie und Deu- funde in Sudbayern." Miinchen 1971. Roman cemetery of Intercisa, Hungary tung der sudostlichen Kulturelemente (Fig. 3). These strap-forms accordingly Konrad, M., "Das romische Graber- in der friihen Volkerwanderungszeit can be dated mainly to the second half feld von Bregenz-Brigantium I." Mitteleuropas." In: Die Volkerwan• of the 4th century and early 5th centu- Miinchen 1997. derungszeit im Karpatenbecken. Niirn- berg 1988, 11-46. ry(Keller 1971,61f.;Konrad 1997,47). Kuhnen, H.-P, "Zwiebelknopffibeln It is rather more difficult to classify the aus Palaestina und Arabia. Uberlegun- Vago, E.B. und Bona, I., "Die Graber- last mentioned belt-buckle no. 3, for gen zur Interpretation einer spatro• felder von Intercisa. Der spatromische which only some single parallels came mischen Fibelform." In: ZDPV 104, 1988, Siidostfriedhof." Budapest 1976. • to my attention. One example was found in Volubilis, Morocco (Boube-Pic- cot 1994, table 78.180); similar pieces with oval bow and wider plates were published by Konrad (1997, 45f). In Qanazvat terms of typology these examples ap• pear to be forerunners of the belt-buck• les with round, thickened bows and By: Klaus Stefan Freyberger, German Archaeological dub-like tongues, which are typical fea• Institute - Damascus (Syria) tures of the first half of the 5th century and certainly of barbaric context, espe• The sixth excavation campaign of the sis of this finding it appears that the cially in the Carpatic basin (Tejral 1988, Syro-German joint expedition to Qana- crypt had been covered by a north- 18f. Fig. 5-6). The piece from Gadara wat lasted from the 6th of March to the south running barrel-vault with the door may be classified into the late 4th or 30th of April 2000. During this cam• of the western side at its top. At the early 5th century A.D. paign we have resumed the excava• beginning of the 20th century the crypt The three belt-buckles described tions at the Temple of Zeus Megistos was converted into a cistern, with the above are some good examples of late in the upper city (Fig.2-3). We have door on the western side dosed by the antique dress-accessories from Gadara/ uncovered the western chamber of the ashlars of the inner wall. All sides of the Umm Qais. Their rare occurrence in naos and the crypt under the adyton. foundation and the adjacent wall above graves shows that they were not com• The foundations consist of three cour• them were covered with watertight mon belt-fittings worn by ordinary per• ses of large basalt find- sons; in the thouroughly excavated late lings. The walls have Roman cemeteries along the Rhine and two outer faces of well- Danube only a fraction of the male bu• cut stones. The west rials were provided with buckles. On wall is pierced by a the other hand, they were frequently door that was accessi• found together with crossbow-broo• ble by means of a stair• ches, which seem to indicate the spe• case in the western cial status of their bearers (Kuhnen side room. Some cut 1988). Probably only officials with pub• stones of the outer face lic responsibilities were provided with of the northern side special brooches and metal cingulum- have a profile of a slight belt-buckles. The wide distribution of curving, which might belt-buckle no. 1 shows that they were indicate the start of a common all over the Roman Empire vault, presumably a Fig.1: Qanawat, city wall with tower on during the fourth century A.D. This pa• barrel one. On the ba• south-eastern corner. Qanauoat

By: Klaus Stefan Freyberger, German Archaeological Institute - Damascus (Syria)

The sixth excavation campaign of the sis of this finding it appears that the Syro-German joint expedition to Qana- crypt had been covered by a north- wat lasted from the 6th of March to the south running barrel-vault with the door 30th of April 2000. During this cam• of the western side at its top. At the paign we have resumed the excava• beginning of the 20th century the crypt tions at the Temple of Zeus Megistos was converted into a cistern, with the in the upper city (Fig.2-3). We have door on the western side closed by the uncovered the western chamber of the ashlars of the inner wall. All sides of the naos and the crypt under the adyton. foundation and the adjacent wall above The foundations consist of three cour• them were covered with watertight ses of large basalt find- lings. The walls have two outer faces of well- cut stones. The west wall is pierced by a door that was accessi• ble by means of a stair• case in the western side room. Some cut stones of the outer face of the northern side have a profile of a slight curving, which might indicate the start of a vault, presumably a Fig.1: Qanawat, city wall with tower on barrel one. On the ba• south-eastern corner. 4 OCCIDENT JL ORIENT - September2001

plaster. The foundation trench, which Caesarian period. had been turned into a basin, received Three quarters of the plaster flooring. We have resumed and filling between the first extended the surveying of the archi• intermediate ceiling tectural elements of the "peripteral tem• and the virgin basalt ple" that were reused in a present-day rock inside the eastern garden fence. We were able to regis• tower, which lies to ter and document more than 1800 frag• the east of "south tem• ments. The majority of these can be ple" (Temple of Zeus ascribed to the still standing building Megistos), has been that belongs to the 3rd century A.D. excavated. It has been In addition to these elements there found that the inter• are further elements of smaller dimen• mediate ceilings be• sions, which were parts of a predeces• long to the late Roman Fig.2: Qanawat, "South Temple" (Temple of Zeus sor building that belonged to the early period. They were Megistos) Cella, the excavated eastern half. Caesarian period. Among this older built partially of reused group there is a relief of a basalt stone, basalt stones, which which was sculptured on two parts. date back to the time They have been uncovered in the area of the construction of of the southeastern corner of the tem• the tower itself. The ple front before the lowest step of the findings of the lower krepis. In the middle of the relief there floor (glass, ceramic) is a recessed and profiled field contai• can be dated back to ning a Greek inscription of five lines late Roman and Byz• (Fig.4). It is flanked by two framing re• antine periods. Two liefs of lion-protomes. According to the coins, were found: Pro- text, Philippos, son of Alexendros, his bus (275-282 A.D.), wife. Bona of Seeia (?) and the son of belonging to the end Alexendros erected the pronaos and of the 3rd century dedicated it to the God of Rabbos. A.D., and a small coin Owing to the names, the dedicators dating back to the where hellenized local dignitaries from mid-5th century A.D. Fig.3: Qanawat, "South Temple" (Temple of Kanatha or the environs. The letters of There was a marble Zeus Megistos) the crypt. the inscription and the style of the re• torso of a Venus statu• liefs suggest a date back to the early ette on the ground of OCCIDENT &. ORIENT- September ZOOI 5

the northeastern quadrant. ture investigations will Within the area of the east• mainly aim to establish a ern gate, which lies in the chronology for the diffe• upper city between the rent phases of construc• cistern and a modern as• tion, to gain information phalt road, remains of a about the period of use of city wall and the founda• this public building and to tion of the gate have been present in writing the his• uncovered running from tory of ancient Kanatha north to south (Fig. 1). The from the Caesarian period foundation of the city wall through the Islamic consists of a pack of basalt period. The nymphaeum findlings. There are three in the Wadi of Qanawat courses of ashlars still has been thoroughly sur• standing over that founda• veyed and precisely tion. Two walls coming Fig.4: Qanawat, "Peripteral Temple", the predecessor building, measured. Archaeological from the west are perpen• construction inscription of Philippos. investigations also have dicular to the city wall. The taken place in and around city wall intersected the older one, northern side, while it projects 70-80 the monument. The construction tech• whose foundation is preserved. In the cm above the ground level of the up• nique of the walls and the profiles in foundation trench we found ceramics, per structure along the eastern side. In this monument are in accordance with which can be dated back to the middle the southern half of the trench, which those of the Odeon and the "southern of the Caesarian period. The second lies between tomb Q 6 and Q 7, we temple" of the Severian age in Qana• wall, which is more recent than the first found eight stone chest graves of dif• wat. Accordingly we can date this buil• one, was built of many reused stones. ferent sizes and states of preservation. ding, whose type is derived from the Its uppermost course superimposes the All tombs were aligned from east to Italic chamber-nymphaeum, back to the city wall, whereas the ashlars of the low• west and repeatedly reused. The graves early 3rd century A.D. In all probabili• er courses are merely adjacent to it. Far• 4, 6, 7 and 8 contained funerary ob• ty, the whole ensemble of the nym• ther to the north of the prolongation of jects, predominantly rings of glass, iron, phaeum was erected during the Seve• the city wall there appeared the foun• bronze and silver, besides beads of glass rian period over an older structure. It dations of the pylons of the eastern gate and semi-precious stone. From prelimi• seems that the whole foundation of the in the north and in the south, in addi• nary inspection of the materials, we can nymphaeum corresponds to an older tion to a pavement of basalt square start dating them between the 4th and cult building, be it in the form of a wall stones before the gate itself. 7th centuries A.D. The largest tomb (8) or an older edifice. The new building was built of reused materials, part of In 1976, Mr. Ghaleb Amer of the Sy• of the nymphaeum offers an illustrious them taken from the nearby tomb Q 6. rian Department of Antiquities exca• example of the re-activation and the From this finding, it appears possible vated a part of the tomb, Q6, in the monumentalisation of traditional cult northern necropole. We have resumed that tomb Q 6 was no longer in use places in Kanatha during the Severian when the area was planned as a cem• the excavation there reaching a level period. The new monumental build• etery. lower than the upper edge of the foun• ings, to which the temple of Zeus dation and have cleaned the surface of We continued to examine the archi• Megistos and the peripteral temple the stepped structure. This under• tectural remains of the thermes in Qana• belonged, should be evaluated as a ground structure, a hypogeum of 16 wat. In the southern part of room D, demonstration and a promotion of tra• loculi-burials, projects below the we found hypocausts and a brick wall ditional cults in the region of jebel al- stepped structure only a few at the southern wall, which prove the Arab.a centimeters along the southern and existence of a warm water basin. Fu• 6 OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001

Wottds of Appreciation to DR. Hans-Dietew Bienewf

By: Johannes Achilles EKD Hannover, Siegfried Mittmann, University of Tubingen and Dieter Vleweger, Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal (Germany)

It was certainly fortunate that the ration with Prof. Administrators of the German Protes• Dr. Dr. Dieter tant Institute named Dr. Hans-Dieter Vieweger, Bib• Bienert as Director of the Institute in lisch-Archaolo• Amman in the spring of 1996. In him, a gisches Institut superior researcher and an experienced Wuppertal, and organizer assumed leadership of the Dr. Roland Lam- Institute. prichs, Dresden). Born on the 15th of July, 1962 in (Preliminary re• Backnang, Rems-Murr-Kreis, Dr. Bie• ports in ADA), nert studied Prehistory and Ancient His• Occident & Ori• tory in Tubingen (after 1982) and Ox• ent, Neo-Lithics, ford (1989). He earned his Doctor of UF and AJA (see Philosophy degree with the predicate references). "summa cum laude" from the Univer• Dr. Bienert has sity of Tubingen (1991-1995) publi• achieved an excellent reputation in the "Ancient Trade and Trade Routes.- shing as his dissertation, "Cult and Re• field of Palestinian archaeology. Scien• Forging New Links For Archaeological ligion in Prehistoric Times: A Study tific exchanges among renowned scho• Research" - five-day-symposium in Based on the Material Findings of Epi- lars from Jordan, the Arab world, Eu• Amman (November 2000) - part of the Paleolithic and Early Neolithic Societies/ rope and North America were ad• 25th anniversary of the German Pro• Cultures of South West Asia (12-6 Mil• vanced through numerous symposia testant Institute of Archaeology, Am• lennia BCE)". and conferences under the excellent or• man. ganization of Dr. Bienert, in conjunc• The directorship of the German Pro• In addition, over the course of recent tion with other research institutions. testant Institute, Amman, was the first years, Dr. Bienert has championed a great challenge of his professional ca• Only the most important are listed closer relationship between the Ger• reer, one which he mastered brilliantly, here.- man-speaking Protestant congregation even at a time when the entire Insti• in Amman and the German Protestant "Central Settlements in Neolithic Jor• tute found itself in deep financial straits. Institute. Dr. Hans-Dieter Bienert deserves cre• dan" - a five day-symposium in Petra/ He deserves our heart-felt thanks for dit, for taking decisive steps toward con• Wadi Musa(July 1997). his diligent and successful work in Am• solidating and putting the budget in "Crossroads of Civilizations - More man. Personally, we have especially order, and also for expanding the sci• Than 100 Years of German Archaeolo• cherished his collegiality and his steady entific prestige of the Institute through gical Research in Jordan" - a two-week and trustworthy co-operation. his superior leadership of noteworthy exhibition in Amman (November 1998; research projects: in co-operation with the Petra Stone Dr. Bienert left the German Protes• tant Institute, Amman, at the end of Archaeological excavation in Neolithic Preservation Project of the Deutschen March, to assume a responsible posi• esh-Shallaf (10/1998 and 3-4/1999; in Gesellschaft furTechnische Zusammen- tion with the Deutsche Forschungsge- co-operation with Prof. Dr. Dr. Dieter arbeit). meinschaft (German Research Society) Vieweger, Biblisch-Archaologisches ln- "Men of Dikes and Canals" - a five in Bonn, Germany. On behalf of the stitut Wuppertal). (Preliminary reports day-symposium in Petra/Wadi Musa Administration, we heartily wish him in ADA), Occident & Orient, Neo-Li- (June 1999) about water in the past and every possible success in his career. thics and A)A (see references). present in the Near East (in co-opera• Archaeological survey and excavations tion with the Orientabteilung des Deut• in the Ba'ja-region (10/1999 in co-ope• schen Archaologischen Instituts). (continued on page 7) (continued from page 6)

In recognition of his scholarly Hans-Dieter Bienert, Hans Georg K. cal Excavations at the Late Neolithic Site achievements, we list his publications: Gebel and Reinder Neef (eds.).- Central of ash-Shalaf: A Preliminary Report on Hans-Dieter Bienert und Dieter Settlements in Neolithic Jordan. Stu• the 1998 Season." In: ADAJ 43,49-67, Vieweger: Die jungsteinzeitliche Sied- dies in Early Near Eastern Production, 1999. lung von Esh-Shallaf in Nordjordanien. Subsistence and Environment 5. Ber• Bienert, H.-D. et al., "Archaeologi• Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz (Abhandlun- lin: ex oriente 2001 (in print). cal Excavations at the Late Neolithic Site gen des Deutschen Palastina-Vereins) Hans-Dieter Bienert and Bernd of ash-Shalaf in Northern Jordan.- A Pre• (in preparation). Miiller-Neuhof(eds.): At the Crossroads. liminary Report on the 1999 Season." Hans-Dieter Bienert, Roland Lam- Essays on the Archaeology, History and In: ADAJ 44, 109-118, 2000. prichs und Dieter Vieweger: Ba'ja - Current Affairs of the Middle East. Am• Bienert, H.-D. et al., "Ba'ja - The Archaologie einer Kleinregion. Archao- man: Al Kutba 2000. Archaeology of a Landscape, 9000 logische Forschungen im Umfeld des Years of Human Occupation: A Preli• antiken Petra. Rahden: Marie Leidorf References minary Report on the 1999 Field Sea• GmbH (Orient-Archaologie) (in prepa• Bastert, K., Bienert, H.-D. and son." In: ADAJ 44, 119-148, 2000. ration). Vieweger, D., "Late Neolithic Esh-Sha- Bienert, H.-D. and Gebel, H.G.K., Hans-Dieter Bienert (ed.): Occident laf 1999: Second Campaign of Excava• "Ba'ja - Investigations into one of the &, Orient (Newsletter of the German tions." In: Occident & Orient 4/1-2, earliest settlements in Jordan." In: Oc- Protestant Institute of Archaeology in 1999,50-51. Amman) 1-5, 1996-2000. Bienert, H.-D. et al., "Archaeologi• (continued on page 10) (continued from page 7) cident &. Orient 2/1, 13-14, 1997. Bienert, H.-D., Lamprichs, R. and Gebel, H.G.K. and Bienert, H.-D., Bienert, H.-D. and Gebel, H.G.K., Vieweger, D., "Ba'ja - The Archaeo• "Excavating Ba'ja, Greater Petra Area, "Ba'ja - Early Neolithic Settlers in the logy of a Landscape 9000 Years of Hu• Southern Jordan." In: Neo-Lithics 1/97, Petra Mountains." In: Occident &. Ori• man Occupation." In: Occident &. Ori• 9-11, 1997. ent 4/1-2,62-65, 1999. ent 2/2, 2-4, 1997. Gebel, H.G.K. and Bienert, H.-D., Bienert, H.-D. and Gebel, H.G.K., Bienert, H.-D., Lamprichs, R. and "The 1997 Season at Ba'ja, Southern "Archaeological Excavations at Late Vieweger, D., "Ba'ja." In: American jordan." In: Neo-Lithics 3/97, 14-18, PPNB Ba'ja: A Preliminary Report on journal of Archaeology 104/3,575-576, 1997. the 1997 Season." In: ADAJ 42, 75-90, 2000. Vieweger, D., Bienert, H.-D. and 1998. Bienert, H.-D. and Vieweger, D., Lamprichs, R., "Ba'ja V: A Newly Dis• Bienert, H.-D. and Gebel, H.G.K., "Esh-Shallaf - a Pottery Neolithic Site covered Neolithic Site in the Ba'ja Re• "Ba'ja." In.- American journal of Archae• in Wadi Shellale." In: Occident & Ori• gion." In: Occident 8. Orient 4/1-2, 72, ology 102/3,584-586, 1998 ent 3/2, 1998, 13-14. 1999. • Bienert, H.-D. and Lamprichs, R., Bienert, H.-D., Vieweger, D. and "Der archaologische Fundplatz Ba'ja I: Bastert, K., "The Late Neolithic Site of Keramik der Oberflache: eine Auswahl." Esh-Shallaf, Northern Jordan." In: Neo- In: Ugarit Forschungen 30, Munster, 97- Lithics3/99, 17-18, 1999. 130, 1999. OCCIDENT*. ORIENT-September2001 7

Welcome to Che neuo DmecfoR DR. Roland Lampnichs

By: Jamil Amira (Abu Hassan), Bernd Miiller-Neuhof, Nadia Shugair

The staff of the German Protestant entitled "Abu Snesleh - stratigraphy and During the last decade he spent se• Institute of Archaeology in Amman architecture". veral months each year in Jordan doing welcomes Dr. Roland Lamprichs as the research in the areas of Before being named new director of the institute. He took Irbid and Petra. He is director of the German office in April and was introduced by already familiar with Protestant Institute in the church on 16 September 2001. the country and well Amman he served for known to the local ar• Dr. Roland Lamprichs, born near Co• several years as lectu• chaeology communi• logne, Germany in 1961 received his rer at Freiburg Univer• ty. His wife Katrin is university training in Near Eastern Ar• sity. During his career also an archaeologist. chaeology, Ancient Middle Eastern lan• he has been, among guages and Religious studies in Berlin others, a Humboldt-fel- Dr. Lamprichs is go• and London. He earned his MA and low (Feodor-Lynen pro• ing to continue the Doctor of Philosophy degrees ("sum- gram) at Yarmouk Uni• work of his predeces• ma cum laude") at Free University in versity in Irbid and part sors and has expressed Berlin, Germany. Dr. Lamprichs' M.A. time lecturer at Mun- the desire to promote dissertation is entitled "Pottery of the ster and Dresden uni• even deeper links and Ur-lll period: a correlacion of archaeo• versities. His archaeo• cooperation with the logical and philological sources". His logical field experience Department of Anti• doctoral thesis is entitled "The expan• included work at Tell quities, Jordanian uni• sion of the Assyrian empire to the west: Shech Hamad (Syria), Basta (Jordan), versities and the international archaeo• a structural analysis". Furthermore, Assur (Iraq), KarTukulti-Ninurta (Iraq), logical centers in Jordan. • among others, he published the first Abu Snesleh (Jordan), Wadi Qattar (Jor• volume of the Abu Snesleh final reports, dan) and Ba'ja III (Jordan). OCCIDENT &. ORIENT- September2001

Fellows in Residence and Associated Fellows (December 2000 - September 2001)

• Mr. Lothar Herling, M.A., University of Heidelberg (Germany), "Survey at Wadi el-Yutum and Tell el-Magass area", ASEYM-Project directed by Prof. Dr. Lutfl Khalil (University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan) and Prof. Dr. Ricardo Eichmann (German Archaeological Institute, Orient Department, Berlin, Germany). Prof. Dr. Dr. Dieter Vieweger, KJrchliche Hochschule Wuppertal (Germany), "Preparing his excavation at Tell Zera'a". Mr. Dimitrios Maniatis, Eschborn (Germany), "Trainee of the GTZ". Dr. Roland Lamprichs, Dresden (Germany), "Research on finds from archaeological excavations at Ba'Ja III and Fersh". Mr. Jens Eichner, Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal (Germany), "Pottery reading and analysis from Ba'ja I (Ayyubid- Mamluke) and preparation - in cooperation with the excavators - of the final report on the pottery". • Mrs. Katrin Bastert-Lamprichs, M.A., Dresden (Germany), "Pottery reading and analysis from Late Neolithic esh-Shailaf and preparation - in cooperation with the excavators - of the final report on the pottery". Dr. Margarete van Ess, German Archaeological Institute Berlin, Orient Section (Germany), "Uruk-expedition (Iraq)". • Scholars holding one-year travel scholarships from the German Archaeological institute (DAI): Mr. Hennemeyer, Mrs. Koch, Mr. Hoffmann (Germany). John Meadows, M.A., University of Melbourne (Australia). • Scholars holding two-month travel scholarships from German Protestant Institute of Archaeology ("Lehrkurs of the DEI"): Prof. Dr. Siegfried Zimmer, Remseck (Germany), Dr. Stefan Fischer, Morija (Lesotho), Mrs. Gabriella Gelardini, Basel (Switzerland), Dr. RolfSchafer, Reutlingen (Germany), Mr. Matthias Vosseler, Aldingen (Germany), Mrs. Christine Stelling, Braunschweig (Germany). Dr. Hans-Wulf Bloedhorn, German Protestant Institute of Archaelogy in Jerusalem, "Accompanying the Lehrkurs". Mr. Jens Ochtrop, Mrs. Christine Peter, Mrs. Alexandra Roth, Mrs. MajaTampe, Mr. Arvid Tiirkner, Trainees of the German Institute of Development Politics (DIE) from February until April 2001. Dr. Michael Miiller-Karpe, Romisch Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz (Germany). Mr. Wolfram Spreer, University of Hohenheim (Germany). "Research for his Master-thesis in cooperation with the GTZ". • Prof. Dr. Warland and Mrs. Warland, University of Freiburg (Germany). Prof. Dr. Hans Nissen and Mrs. Magret Nissen, Free University of Berlin (Germany). • Prof Dr. Robert McAdams, La Jolla (USA). • Phillip Rassmann, M.A., State University of Washington, Seattle (USA), "Research on the lithic artifacts from the Wadl Qattar survey", directed by Dr. R. Bernbeck, Dr. S. Kerner, Dr. R. Lamprichs and Dr. G. Lehmann. Mrs. Karen Gerleman, University of Lund (Sweden), "Arabic Language Studies at University of Jordan, Amman." Dr. Susanne Kerner, German Archaeological Institute, Berlin (Germany), "Pottery-Reading". ASEYM-Project directed by Prof. Dr. Lutfi Khalil (University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan) and Prof. Dr. Ricardo Eichmann (German Archaeological Institute, Orient Section, Berlin, Germany). Hans-Georg Gebel, M.A., Free University of Berlin (Germany), "Research on lithic artifacts from the survey at Ba'ja 5 (Jordan)". Prof. Dr. Robert Wenning, University of Bonn (Germany) and his team, "Research in Petra". Klaus Schwarz, Berlin (Germany), "Preparing a Multivision of ancient Jordan History" in cooperation with Goethe-Institute Amman and German Protestant Institute in Amman. Prof. Dr. Dr. Dieter Vieweger, Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal (Germany) and team, "Excavation in Tell Zera'a". Mr. OKR Johannes Achilles, Secretary general of the German Protestant Institute, Hannover (Germany), "Introducing the new director". Dr. Giinther Schauerte, Stiftung PreuBischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin (Germany) and team, "Excavations in Umm Qals". Dipl. Ing. Claudia Biihrig, German Archaeological Institute, Berlin (Germany), "Completion of the sign-post project in Umm Qeis" in cooperation with the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in Amman and the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. Dr. Thomas Weber, Mainz (Germany). Students of the Baghdad University, Baghdad (Iraq), "Holding a DAAD scholarship on their way to Germany". Students of the Baghdad University, Baghdad (Iraq), "Participating in excavations in Jerash (Jordan) ". OCCIDENTA ORIENT- September2001 9

Thanks and Fattetoell Co MR. Johannes Achilles

By: Hans-Dieter Bienert, Bonn (Germany)

The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) is a major financial contributor to the German Protestant Institute of Ar• chaeology - both its institutions in Amman and Jerusalem - and also pro• vides the administrative board for the institute. For the past ten years Mr. Achilles headed this board as secretary general. Mr. Achilles studied theology and sports at the universities of Gottingen and Tubingen (Germany). After having served as priest in different parishes he was seconded to Australia in 1982 where he headed the German spea• king congregation in Melbourne until 1991. Returning home to Germany Mr. Achilles took over a senior position at the head office of the Evangelical Church • __. s • in Hannover in Germany. Beside his Mr. Achilles at Wad i Yarmuk with (from left to right) Ms. Shugair, Ms. Khubeis, main responsiblities for the Far East and Ms. Schmiedel. Australia he also became the secretary general of the administrative board of pestuous events in the Middle East over being closed down. Despite the fact the German Protestant Institute of Ar• the past 100 years - the institute was that the institute had been very active chaeology. founded in Jerusalem in 1903 - have in numerous fields severe financial cuts The adminstration of the institute has affected the institute in many ways. In by the Evangelical Church in Germany always been challenging. The often tem• 1997 the institute was on the verge of (continued on page 11) (continued from page 9) field of Near Eastern Archaeology but well aware of its needs. The directors also in fostering mutual understanding of the institutes in Amman and [erusa- almost led to the closure of the insti• among the religions and cultures in that lem knew, and know, that there is a tute. But the active support of many region. "friend" in Hannover, open-minded on colleagues, friends, distinguished poli• all matters and concerns. Now, as Mr. ticians and diplomats, as well as mem• During the past ten years, Achilles will soon take on a new posi• bers of the Royal Family of )ordan, pre• Mr. Achilles has become a true friend tion, I, as the former director of the in• vented the closure. Mr. Achilles was of the institute and a real "fighter" for stitute in Amman, would like to say a heavily involved in supporting these its future. When he retires from his po• very special "thank you" for his great activities. His courage and commitment sition as secretary general in October support and courage which he demon• to the institute were vital for its survi• this year it is hoped that he will conti• strated over the years. I am sure that 1 val. Today, the Evangelical Church in nue to actively support its activities. also speak on behalf of all friends - on Germany still provides financial support Mr. Achilles, however, has been far both sides of the )ordan River. B and the German Foreign Office - as a more than just a secretary general ta• "new partner" - adds a considerable king good care of the administration. sum, so that the institute is able to con• He travelled frequently to the region tinue its important role, not only in the and visited the institute and became Resaf a (Synia)

By: Stephan Westphalen, Gottingen (Germany)

The excavations, which took place it reveals an urban formation of an en• Gerasa. The crossing points and ends between 1997 and 1999, were dedi• semble of pilgrimage and processional of the main streets were embellished cated to studying the urbanization of streets. This type of formation is known with single monuments such as arches the Byzantine town. The Basilica D at other pilgrimage sites, such as Abu or the pillar-monument. The layout of (Fig. 1) and a Pillar-monument, at which Mena in Egypt or Qalat Siman in Syria. the streets is in accordance with the two main streets meet one another, The streets in our ensemble are wide. Greco-Roman tradition. These streets were within the excavation area. Fur• They were provided with sidewalks also served pilgrims to move from one ther, we have investigated street arches paved with stone slabs. It is probable church to the next throughout the city. which are situated in two different pla• that they were flanked by porticoes. The Such processional streets had not ex• ces in the city. During the excavations, width of the streets is 15 m. This di• isted before in Resafa although they the historical street system began to ap• mension corresponds to Roman colon• were known at Qalat Siman, where such pear in outline. Although still meager, naded streets, such as those of Petra or a street pointed in a straight line to the Ill OCCIDENT A ORIENT - September2001

possible route led, presumably, through a street arch which lies north of the Central-church, where an already pu• blished inscription propagated the vic• Wr-jesex wwm, -g tory of the Christian faith. The splendor of Resafa was above all directed to the 1 i pilgrims (among them Bedouins from both sides of the frontier), either to 1 1 J i Zi 1 Qj^TWW^T/M strengthen their believe or to encou• rage them to convert to Christianity. One passed through the arch and drew near a holy area, within which stood the Central-church where baptisms . 1 Z(- -j- -J-— -r- -r j— probably took place. The available archaeological data so far permit us to assume that during the i 6th century, Resafa developed accor• ding to a comprehensive plan, but we still are not in a position to reconstruct i l 0 ' ' 1 S 10 " 15 it. The excavation of Basilica D demon• 1 I strates how limited are the urban in• Fig. 1: Resafa, Basilica D. Reconstruction. vestigations of Byzantine Resafa. The area was occupied for more than 700 years, up to the Middle Ages. Only sanctuary. Instead, Resafa was charac• of the city wall in this context. It could meager remains from Byzantine times terized by an urban street system, of have been a gathering and starting have been preserved under more re• which only certain streets could also be place for processions. In the course of a cent layers. Nevertheless, Basilica D is used for processions. One can also in• procession, pilgrims were seeking dif• to be reconstructed as a small, three- clude the richly decorated North Gate ferent stations within the town area. A aisled church (around 24 m long and OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001 / /

15 m wide) that included two side of massive ashlars, rooms next to the apse. We could not whereas the side prove the existence of a vestibule in walls, judging from the west. The church probably was the meagre re• erected during the first half of the 6th mains, were con• century, nearly contemporary with the structed of mud- Central-church and Basilicas A, B, and bricks. Only few re• C. Accordingly, it was part of the buil• mains of its architec• ding program which characterized the tural sculptures, city. The church demonstrates above all such as chancel remarkable technical details of construc• screens (Fig. 2) and tion. The west facade together with the a capital of a pillar, main portal and the apse were erected have survived. There is evidence m Fig. 2: Resafa, Chancel screen from Basilica D, 6 century. that the church was abandoned after it was damaged by an impression of daily life. It is evident that earthquake. Thereafter it ap• urban life in Resafa thrived up to the pears to have been profaned middle of the 13th century. At that time, and turned into a private house. the region was abandoned and the in• An almost complete ground habitants moved farther west to escape plan of its last phase in the 12/ approaching Mongols. 13th centuries exists (Fig. 3). Finally, we uncovered remarkable The building occupies a surface earlier layers under the apse of Basilica 2 of nearly 260 m . A row of D, which included a water-service and shops extended in front of the foundation of an older structure. Proba• western side. The house con• bly these can be dated to the 4th and sisted of habitation and service 5th century. At that time, Resafa was tracts around a small courtyard. developing from a frontier castle to a Two staircases prove the exis• prosperous city as a result of increasing tence of an upper storey. The pilgrimage traffic. • hearths, ovens, latrines and Fig. 3: Resafa, medieval house, built in wells render an approximate Basilica D. Reconstruction. 12 OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001

Digital tennain models examples of the wide field fon archaeological purposes

By: Christian Schafer and Marco Hofmann, Department of Geomatics at FH Karlsruhe, (Ger• many)

Archaeology and geodesy have al• Applied Sciences, ways been connected to each other, Karlsruhe. Within the e.g., in measuring on excavation sites diploma thesis of or in large archaeological surveys. Es• Marco Hofmann and pecially in this case the exact position• Christian Schafer mo• ing of finds places plays is important. dern geomatic tech• Satellite-based measurement methods nologies were used, combined with conventional methods but also conventional are useful to get complete and precise surveying. documentation and plot, even in rough Various topographic areas. Additionally a variety of me• detail maps, based on thods of computation are offered which terrestrial measure• facilitate qualitative and quantitative ments, were linked up analyses. Virtual representation further• to a homogenous net• more can make it possible to present work by the use of sa• archaeological circumstances to a wider tellite-based measure• public, and because of that serve to ments with the Global heighten interest, too. Positioning System. In the framework of the ASEYM2000 Several special maps project, the University of Applied Sci• for archeological use ences shows the change in the field of and a virtual three-di• activity of surveyors. This project is re• mensional animation alized in cooperation of the Near East constituted the main Section of the DAI and the Archaeo• focus of the continuous logy Department of the University of computer-based dis• Jordan, Amman, as well as the Depart• sertations. Detail of the shaded relief map. ment of Geomatics at the University of Those special maps were a digital shaded relief map and a satellite image map, both in a scale of 1:100,000. Their origin was a digital terrain model generated with animation software, 3D- Studio MAX, which is mostly used in the film industry and computer- game pro• Marco Hofmann collecting positions gramming. with OmniStar-GPS Equipment Thus, the ter- North-east corner of the model with Disi village. OCCIDENTS. ORIENT-September2001

rain model used for the digital shaded cavation) were plotted into the digital exceptional for high-quality animation. relief map was virtually illuminated with shaded relief map and serve as an over• To make the representation as realistic a defined angle and intensity, so that view map. as possible the satellite image was pro• natural looking shadows and jected on the digital terrain light were created. It is due model, allowing both laymen to this shadow that an impres• and experts to get an idea of sion of this mountainous re• this especially geologically in• gion looks like a relief. teresting region and its ar• The second special map chaeological treasures via a vir• uses a satellite image for cre• tual fly-over. ating an even more realistic The three-dimensional visu• impression. The technical data alization can show spatial dis• showed that at this point of coveries more clearly. Espe• time the images of LANDSAT cially for archeology this cre• 7 were the best choice. After ates the chance of virtual re• the use of different methods construction, like some of the of digital image processing, a examples of our institute faithful graphic representation prove. On the other hand this of the desert region with a re• offers the possibility of presen• solving power of 15 m was tations of concrete results for at last achieved. Aqaba, bird's eye view of the virtual three-dimensional the public, e.g., museums. digital terrain. Both the digital shaded re• And last but not least this can lief map and the satellite create more interest, accept• image map served as background to At the end of the diploma thesis a ance and support among all participat• the map generation, on which topo• virtual three-dimensional animation ing groups of natives and foreigners. • graphic features like contour lines, roads based on the terrain model and the sa• and settlement areas were portrayed. tellite data was drawn up. Impressive The archaeological classified finds places was the rendering time of several days (tomb, rock-drawing, Neolithic site, ex• at a high-end workstation, which is not Celebrzating the Amman Institute Comments on its 2StYi Anniuexzsany (continuation)

As a continuation of the con• November 1999. In the last twenty-five I therefore hope that the Institute's gratulations published in Occi• years, the German Protestant Institute activities can continue and will receive of Archaeology in Amman has rendered funding in the future." dent &. Orient I&2 2000, re• an invaluable service in recovering and maining congratulations on the — Petra Blass, Vice-President of the restoring treasures belonging to the German Bundestag, Berlin (Germany) 25th anniversary of the German world cultural heritage and in the field Protestant Institute of Archae• of archaeological research. ology in Amman are published It thus forges important links between It is with great pleasure that I express, here. cultures, not least thanks to its com• on behalf of the American Center of mendable public relations work. The Oriental Research (ACOR) community, work carried out by the Institute at the our congratulations to the German Pro• "I still have fond memories of my visit, historical sites is indispensable. The re• testant Institute of Archaeology on the competently guided by Hans-Dieter sults of this work are deeply apprecia• occasion of its 25th anniversary. Since I Bienert, through the excavation sites in ted by the visitors, whose numbers are became director of ACOR in 1991 and Umm Qais during my stay in Jordan in increasing every year. indeed long before, ACOR and GPI 14 OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September 2001

have enjoyed a collaborative and fruit• Stipendiat des Lehrkurses unter der sich die Rolle des Institutes wahrlich nicht ful relationship. Over the years, we have Leitung von Frau Dr. Wagner-Lux, darauf, den Archaologen und worked together on a common mission sparer im Verwaltungsrat. 1981 bot das Reisenden Ruhe und Unterkunft zu to preserve and promote the cultural Institut den DDR-Teilnehmern die bieten. Vielmehr bin ich dankbar, eine heritage of )ordan. Our libraries have einzigartige Moglichkeit, das Gebiet niitzliche Bibliothek vor Ort zu haben, worked closely so as not to duplicate um den Jordan und dann auch Syrien die weitere Vorbereitungen und resources, and our administrators have kennenzulernen. Ein Besuch in Israel Forschungen ermoglicht. Und last but assisted each other on countless occa• war uns verwehrt. So standen wir Alt-, not least waren die wissenschaftlichen sions. Our respective students and Neutestamentler und Kirchen- und technischen Mitarbeiter des Hauses scholars have continuously collabora• geschichtler denn wie einst Mose auf stets mit Rat und Tat behilflich und auch ted on their research in order to gain a dem Nebo und blickten sehnsuchtig manchesmal fiir einen Plausch better understanding of the history of gen Westen. Allerdings erfuhren wir zwischendurch zu haben. Als Jordan through archaeology. Located auch, daB die DDR-Wahrung eine der Archaologe mit Forschungsinteressen in only a short distance away, across a stabilsten der Welt zu sein schien. Bei Jordanien kann man sich nur eines small wadi, GPI has been a great friend einem Einbruch in das Institutsgebaude wunschen: DaB das Institut auch and asset to ACOR. We wish GPI con• war samtliches konvertierbares Geld zukiinftig seine Arbeit wahrnehmen tinued success and look forward to a- verschwunden, die nicht konvertierbare kann und seine Einrichtungen den im nother 25 years of fruitful cooperation. DDR-Scheine lagen fein sauberlich auf Land Forschenden zur Verfiigung stehen! — Dr. Pierre Bikai. American Center of dem Tisch ausgebreitet. Es waren eben Konner am Werk gewesen. Oriental Research (ACOR), Amman (Jor• — Dr. Christoph Eger, Deutsches dan) Unter den Institutsdirektoren Frau Dr. A rchaoiogisches Institut, Madrid (Spain) Susanne Kerner und Herrn Dr. Dieter Bienert hatte ich nach den politischen A I'occasion de la celebration du Veranderungen in Deutschland Living for years as a freelance archae• vingt-cinquieme anniversaire du mehrfach Gelegenheit, das Instituts- ologist and restorer in a country like Jor• >Deutsches Evangelisches lnstitut» a leben kennenzulernen. Hier gingen dan is not easy. Not being affiliated to Amman je voudrais exprimer combien Studenten, Aspiranten, Professoren und a university team or a well established nous nous sommes tous repuis de voir Politiker ein und aus, hier traf man sich institute often raises problems in get• que les menaces qui pesaient, il y a zu intensivem Fachgesprach, hier hat ting all the basic scientific support peu de temps encore, sur cet Institut inzwischen auch die Deutsche needed for your daily work. In such a etaient ecartees et qu'une solution avait Evangelische Gemeinde ihren case you have to be able to depend on e~te trouvee pour lui permettre de pour- Treffpunkt. Das Institut strahlt ein well functioning personal networks in suivre sa mission. Le «Deutsches Evan• internationales Flair aus, ist fest in dem order to organise your own activities. gelisches lnstitut» occupe une place de wissenschaftlichen und gesell- For me the GPAI is one of the most im• premier plan dans le reseau des Insti• schaftlichen Kontext des Landes und portant stopovers in my professional tute europe~ens du Proche-Orient, a la anderer Institute integriert. network. Its library is well equipped and fois des centres d'accueil et de a comfortable working place, its staff is recherche, qui son: entres dans une col• Moge diese Statte des lebendigen very kind and helpful, and its director wissenschaftlichen und geistlichen laboration de plus en plus e"troite au is a reliable friend and always a well Austausches noch lange bestehen cours des dernieres annees. lis ont ex- informed partner for discussions, devo• prime" leur solidarite" car ils savent que bleiben - iiber alle auch finanziellen ted to the subject of Jordanian archae• ce n'est qu'en associant leurs bibli- und politischen Klippen hinweg. Den ology. And last but not least, the gar• otheques et leurs documentations qu'ils Mitarbeitern und jeweiligen Leitern den of the Institute is one of the most gebuhrt mein aufrichtiger Dank. peuvent mettre a la disposition des appreciated party and reception sites archeologues jordaniens et de leurs — Dr. Ulrich Schroter, Berlin of Amman. hotes des instruments de travail effica- (Germany) — Ueli Bellwald, Amman (Jordan) ces et constituer les espaces de dia• logue et d'echanges qui font progresser la recherche. Wahrend meiner Stipendiatenreise Lange bevor ich daran denken habe ich Mitte April 1998 das Deutsche konnte, den Orient zu bereisen, wurde — Prof. Dr. Jean-Marie Dentzer, Uni- Evangelische Institut in Amman versite'de Paris I, Paris (France) meine Vorstellung der Region von kennengelernt. Ich bin damals nach Bildern gepragt, von Bildern, die in der einer ausgedehnten Fahrt von Aqaba ersten Dekade des 20. Jahrhunderts Mit Freude sehe ich auf die 25 ]ahre nach Amman recht ausgelaugt am entstanden waren. Wahrend meines des Bestehens zuriick. Das Deutsche Institut eingetroffen. Mein erster Theologiestudiums an der Ernst-Moritz- Evangelische Institut fiir Alter- Eindruck: Welche Ruhe und welcher Arndt-Universitat Greifswald arbeitete tumswissenschaft des Heiligen Landes kleine paradiesische Garten! Seitdem in Amman durfte ich seit 20 ]ahren habe ich dieses Geftihl jedesmal, wenn intensiv begleiten. Zunachst als ich das Institut betrete. Doch beschrankt (continued on page 15) (continued from page 14) hinterlieBen jedoch die Begegnungen The first thought which strikes my mit den Menschen in diesen uberaus mind when thinking of the German In• ich als wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft im gastfreundlichen Landern. Die stitute of Archaeology is that of dust, Fachbereich Altes Testament. Zu vielfaltigen Zeugnisse menschlicher sweat and exhaustion which characte• meinen ersten Aufgaben gehorte die Leistungen aus vergangenen rized the beginnings and the history of Sichtung und Katalogisierung der Kulturepochen beeindruckten mich the 25-year-old institute. Diapositive und Fotos, die sich im durchaus; daneben bilden die Bestand des Gustaf-Dalman-lnstitutes The second thought is that of a suc• Erfahrungen herzlicher Gastfreundschaft fur Biblische Landes- und cess story of achievements, new dis• einen ganz wichtigen Bestandteil der Altertumskunde befanden. Sie waren coveries, new interpretations and rear• Erinnerung an den ersten Lehrkurs und auf den ersten Lehrkursen des DEIAHL rangements of pieces in the mosaic of weitere Besuche in Jordanien. Daraus unter der Leitung von Gustaf-Dalman Jordan's past. sind z.T Freundschaften entstanden, die in Palastina entstanden und faszinierten schone iiber ]ahre hin Bestand haben. Researchers from inside and outside mich ungemein angesichts ihres Stellvertretend fur andere sei an dieser Jordan will hopefully continue to find in historischen Wertes und ihrer hohen Stelle Abu Hassan erwahnt, der schon that institute a treasure for their research, Qualitat. Solange ich mit diesen Bildern Generationen von Lehrkursteilnehmern education and experience. beschaftigt war, ob beim Ordnen oder zuverlassig auf den Exkursionen spater bei der Presentation, haben sie Education and propagation of archae• nichts von dieser Faszi nation eingebuBt. begleitet hat. Im Riickblick auf die ological methodologies, dedication and Wochen den Spatsommers 1989 trifft Der Wunsch, die Fotomotive mit den culture were the values and invest• die Feststellung in vollem Umfang zu; originalen Schauplatzen zu vergleichen, ments of the Institute, for present and sie haben pragenden Einfluss auf meine tauchte folgerichtig bald auf, war aber future generations of scientists and stu• berufliche und personliche Entwicklung erst sehr viel spater realisierbar. Meine dents. Safeguarding and protecting gehabt. Deshalb verbindet sich fur mich Teilnahme am Lehrkurs 1989 in Syrien them are of utmost importance for our mit der Dankbarkeit fur entscheidendes und Jordanien erfullte nicht nur human heritage. Ups and downs, to• Erleben auf dem Lehrkurs des DEIAHL Wunsche im Hinblick auf meine lerated and contained by love of the mit dem Wunsch, dass diese gluckliche Forschungen zum Wirken Gustaf work done also characterized the story Symbiose zwischen alter und moderner Dalmans in Palastina. Unter der of archaeology in Jordan and of the Kultur in biblischen Landern fur fachkundigen Leitung von Susanne German Institute, but progress, success Interessierte noch lange erlebbar bleibt. Kerner und Thomas Weber erhielten wir and achievements accumulated never• fundierte Einblicke in die Archaologie, — Dr. Wernfried Rieckmann, theless. Geschichte und Kultur des Alten Theologische Hochschule Friedensau, — Prof. Dr. Elias Salameh, University Orients. Die tiefsten Eindrucke Fried ensau (Germany) of Jordan, Amman (Jordan) • OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001 15

The jondan Valley Village Pnoject: Recent Excavations at Eawly Bttonxe IV Tell Aba en-Nf aj

By: Steven E. Falconer, Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University (USA), Patricia L. Fall, Department of Geography, Arizona State University (USA) and Jennifer E. Jones, Depart• ment of Anthropology, Arizona State University (USA)

The goal of the Jordan Valley Village 1994). Tremendous social changes char• gion-wide urban abandonment (ca. Project is to investigate changes in vil• acterized these periods, with the de• 2300-2000 B.C). Deep stratified depo• lage economy in the Early and Middle velopment, abandonment and subse• sits (totaling 3.3 m) and a few Early Bronze Ages of the southern Levant quent reoccupation of the region's first Bronze III sherds found in the lowest (Falconer 1987; Falconer and Magness- cities. Tell Abu en-Ni'aj is a single pe• levels indicate that Tell Abu en-Ni'aj is Gardiner 1989; Fall, Lines, Falconer riod agricultural village site dating to one of the very few Early Bronze IV sites 1998; Magness-Gardiner and Falconer Early Bronze IV (EB IV), a period of re• occupied through most or all of the 16 OCCIDENTS. ORIENT - September 2001

period. This long occupation provides us a rare opportunity to study diachro- nic changes in village organization, animal and plant use, and craft produc• tion and distribution during this period of social and political upheaval (Jones 1999; Fall, Lines, and Falconer 1998). Tell Abu en-Ni'aj is located southwest of the modern town of Mashare in the northern Jordan Valley, approximately 250 m below sea level and 500 m east of the Jordan River. The site measures approximately 2.5 hectares, and sits atop a low hill of Pleistocene lacustrine sediments deposited by ancient Lake Lisan. Fertile agricultural land was avai• lable nearby, since the site sits on the western edge of the ghor, overlooking the zor (the Jordan River floodplain). The East Jordan Valley Survey disco• Fig. 1: Arizona State University student Michele White examines Early Bronze IV vered Tell Abu en-Ni'aj in 1975 and architecture at Tell Abu en-Ni'aj. recognized it was a rare example of an Early Bronze IV village (Ibrahim, Sauer, and Yassine 1976). The site lay un• owes much to the assistance of under• latest). Sixteen contiguous 4 x 4-meter touched until October 1985, when Ste• graduate and graduate students from units revealed a series of domestic struc• ven Falconer and Bonnie Magness-Gar- Arizona State University (Tempe, Ari• tures located west of an open area with diner directed two weeks of test exca• zona, USA), and LaTrobe University hearths, pits, and storage bins, the in• vations during a break in the final field (Melbourne, Australia), and Jordanian tersection of two sherd-paved streets, season at Tell el-Hayyat. This work was archaeologists Dr. Maysoon al-Nahar, and a large mudbrick installation possi• a collaboration between the University Mr. Nazi Fino, Ms. Lena Arabiyat, Mr. bly used for pressing olives or grapes. of Arizona, the Department of Antiqui• Nasser Hindawi, and Ms. Alia Faza. Our Non-cultural sediments were ties of Jordan (Director-General Dr. Ad- Department of Antiquities representa• reached in thirteen of the fourteen 4 x nan Hadidi), and the American Center tives were Mr. Ibrahim Zubi, Mr. Mu• 4-meter units excavated in 2000, in• of Oriental Research (Director Dr. Da• hammad Abu Abileh, Mr. Yoosha al- cluding five started during the 1996/ vid McCreery). The U.S. National En• A'mri and Mr. Nidal Hindawi. 97 season. In the fall of 1999 bulldo• dowment for the Humanities and the The 1985 excavations showed that Ib• zing for industrial development on and National Geographic Society provided rahim, Sauer, and Yassine were correct around Tell Abu en-Ni'aj cleared a 26- funding for the 1985 season. in emphasizing the importance of Tell meter-long stratigraphic cross-section The Jordan Valley Village Project re• Abu en-Ni'aj. Ten 4 x 4-meter units on the western side of the tell. In a sumed excavation at Tell Abu en-Ni'aj produced abundant material culture, stunning discovery, an earthquake slip in a five-week season during Decem• floral and faunal remains, and mudbrick fault was revealed in a series of offset ber 1996 and January 1997, and con• and rammed earth architecture consis• ash and burned soil layers near a rock- tinued with a ten-week season between tent with a sedentary Early Bronze IV lined thermal feature. These offset se• January and March 2000. The U.S. Na• farming village. Soundings in two units diments were capped by Early Bronze tional Science Foundation, National reached archaeologically sterile sedi• IV deposits, indicating the earthquake Geographic, and the Wenner-Gren ments and revealed at least three ma• occurred during the occupation of Tell Foundation for Anthropological Research jor EBIV strata. Abu en-Ni'aj. funded this work, which is directed by The 1996/97 season demonstrated A group of three articulated sheep Dr. Falconer, Dr. Patricia Fall, and Dr. that Tell Abu en-Ni'aj contained strati• burials allude to Early Bronze IV ritual Jennifer Jones. Our work represents a fied deposits spanning most or all of behavior. Each animal was buried in a collaboration between Arizona State Early Bronze IV (Falconer, Fall, and Jones one-meter-deep pit on its right side University, the Department of Antiqui• 1998). Evidence from the basal level with its head pointing east. The top of ties of Jordan (past Director-General Dr. suggests that Tell Abu en-Ni'aj was each pit was marked with several 20- Ghazi Bisheh and present Director-Ge• founded about 2300 B.C., then rebuilt 50-centimeter stones that would have neral Dr. Fawwaz Khraysheh) and the in a series of six successive strata las• been obvious markers. Early Bronze IV American Center of Oriental Research ting until approximately 2000 B.C. ritual contexts at other sites include (Director Dr. Pierre Bikai). Our success (Phase 7 is the earliest and Phase I the caprine remains. For example, Early OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001 17

Bronze IV burials at Jericho and )ebel Qa'aqir include sheep/goat bones in• terred with the human skeletons (Dev- er 1995). At Early Bronze IV Bab edh' Dhra, at least a dozen sheep horns were found scattered on a surface associated with two elevated stone platforms (Schaub and Rast 1984). Unlike the e- vidence from other sites, however, the Tell Abu en-Ni'aj burials feature a shared anatomical orientation and burial mar• kers. The 2000 field season also revealed diachronic changes in the architectural plan of the village and in the ceramic paste used by village porters (Fig. I and 2). Mudbrick architecture grew denser and rooms more crowded through time. The architectural layout shifted in about Phase 4, to a denser architectural plan whose walls ran in different direc• Fig. 2: Undergraduate archaeology student Ruth Tucker examines Early Bronze tions than previously. Despite these ar• IV architecture at Tell Abu en-Ni'aj. chitectural changes. Tell Abu en-Ni'aj appears to have been occupied con• tinuously from the time it was founded. Early Bronze IV Period in Palestine." In: Jones, J.E., "Local Ceramic Exchange Accompanying, or predating the archi• T.E. Levy (ed.), The Archaeology of in a Collapse Early Urban Society in the tectural changes, potters at Tell Abu en- Society in the Holy Land. London, Southern Levant." Ph.D. dissertation, Ni'aj stopped using large calcite tem• 1995,282-296. Arizona State University, Tempe, Ari• per, in favor of smaller basalt and lime• Falconer, S.E., "Village Pottery Pro• zona, 1999, University Microfilms. stone inclusions commonly known as duction and Exchange: A Jordan Valley Magness-Gardiner, B. and "salt and pepper" temper. These Perspective." In: A. Hadidi (ed.), Stu• Falconer, S.E., "Community, Polity, and changes hint at the vitality and grow• dies in the History and Archaeology of Temple in a Middle Bronze Age Le• ing population of this village despite Jordan III. Amman, 1987,251-259. vantine Village." In: Journal of Medi• the collapse of regional urbanism. Falconer, S.E. and Magness- terranean Archaeology 7(2), 1994, 127- Today, Tell Abu en-Ni'aj lies within a Gardiner, B., "Bronze Age Village Life 164. large area being developed by the Jor• in the Jordan Valley: Archaeological In• Schaub, R.T. and Rast, W.E., "Pre• dan Gateway Project, a major interna• vestigations at Tell el-Hayyat and Tell liminary Report of the 1981 Expedition tional industrial development that will Abu en-Ni'aj." In: National Geographic to the Dead Sea Plain, Jordan." In: Bul• include facilities on both sides of the Research 5(3), 1989,335-347. letin of the American Schools of Orien• Jordan River. The active participation of tal Research 254, 1984. 35-60. • the Department of Antiquities of Jordan Falconer, S.E., Fall, P.L. and has limited the effects of this construc• Jones, J.E., "Winter 1996/97 Excava• tion on the site and will protect the re• tions in the northern Jordan Valley: The maining portion of the tell from further Jordan Valley Village Project." In: Ame• impact. This intervention will allow fu• rican Journal of Archaeology 102(3), ture research to recover new evidence 1998,588-589. and improve our understanding of life Fall. P.L., Lines, L. and Fal• in the Jordan Valley during this crucial coner, S.E., "Seeds of Civilization: period in the history of the earliest ci• Bronze Age Rural Economy and Ecolo• vilization of Jordan. More importantly, gy in the Southern Levant." In: Annals the conservation of Tell Abu en-Ni'aj il• of the Association of American Geogra• lustrates how cooperative efforts can phers 88(1), 1998, 107-125. preserve Jordan's ancient heritage while Mo'awiyah, I., Sauer, J.A. and simultaneously developing jobs for its Yassine, K., "The East Jordan Valley modern citizens. Survey, 1975." In: Bulletin of the Amer• References: ican Schools of Oriental Research 222, Dever, W.G., "Social Structure in the 1976,41-66. IK OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001

The BibLicaL Archaeological Institute of WcjppetttaL

By: Dieter Vieweger, Biblical Archaeological Institute of Wuppertal (Germany)

The Biblical Archaeological Institute r of Wuppertal (BAI) seeks to promote P&^rSZEFr* i <-A-&&&&*£& • iff ipTP%Wi • research in areas of biblical archaeolo• gy, promotes interaction among scien• tific institutions at home and abroad, and serves to educate, provide advanced training, and spread scientific know• ledge in the field of archaeology. The Director of the Institute is Prof. Dr. Dr. Dieter Vieweger (Chair of Old Testa• ment and Biblical Archaeology).

Research specialities: 1. Excavations in the Near East, with subsequent publications; 2. Application of geophysical methods in Near Eastern archaeology and the development of suitable equipment; Fig. 1: Excavation of Ba'ja I 3. Experimental archaeology: research into prehistorical production of cera• mics, including firing techniques.

Excavations and geophysical re• search (Fig. 1) We have frequently reported on our jordanian excavations in Occident & Orient and ADA). In recent years we have investigated esh-Shallaf and Ba'ja I (Fig. 1), III and V (Archaeology of a Countryside) - both in cooperation with the German Protestant Institute in Am• man and its former director Dr. Hans- Dieter Bienert - and Sal (near Irbid), in conjunction with the Institute for An• thropology and Archaeology of the Uni• versity of Irbid (Prof. Dr. Zeidan Kafafi). Geophysical investigations, first at• tempted with excellent results during excavations of Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Sal, will be continued and expanded during campaigns at Tell Zera'a in Wadi el- Arab, planned for autumn 2001.

Fig. 2: Kiln during firing. (continued on page 19) (continued from page 18) techniques, questions range from the and drawings from comparable cultures way the clay is dug to its processing provide models. Potter Hanna Ancient Pottery Production. A His• {e.g., washing, mixing, working the Bruckelmann contracts with the Biblical tory of Technology Project of the Bib• clay) up to studying the hand working Archaeological Institute of Wuppertal to lical Archaeological Institute (Fig. 2) techniques and the artistic decorating. do experimental research on Cypriot The Biblical Archaeological Institute of The working of surfaces (e.g., poli• pottery-making during the Bronze Wuppertal is researching lifestyles of shing), the painting and decorating (in• Age. Besides having decades of ex• ancient cultures. Work with historical cluding creating the tinting agents), perience as a free-lance potter, she also technologies, especially those related and the constructing of a kiln will be brings to her present work experience to the production with the produc• of pottery in the tion and replica• eastern Mediter• tion of pottery ranean region, has from the lower developed into Rhein region (un• an extraordinary der contract with project. the Rheinland First, we focus Monuments De• on questions ari• partment). Results sing from the na• to date were pre• tural sciences: sented at the what raw mate• Summer Acade• rials were utilized, my of the Ger• what was the man People's composition of Study Foundation clay found locally, which met in Sep• what additives tember 2000 in were mixed in St. johann. Sou• (meager), what fi• thern Tyrolia (Fig. ring temperatures 3). Mrs. Bruckel• mann and Prof. were necessary, Fig. 3: Pottery-replicates Dr. Dr. Dieter and what chemi• cal processes occurred in the kiln? Be• pursued during experiments at BAI, Vieweger led a study group there yond these factual issues lies the ques• according to ancient prototypes as which presented and elaborated on tion, "Why?" That is, what goal did an much as possible. Bronze Age pottery production in an• ancient potter pursue by applying par• Along with pottery kilns and work sta• cient Cyprus in the larger context of ticular methods and steps in the work tions found at excavations, ethnologi• Cypriot history and culture. • process? When experimenting with cal studies as well as written discoveries OCCIDENT &. ORIENT-September2001 19

The Finnish Jabal Hanun Pnoject 2.000

By ). Frose'n, University of Helsinki (Finland) and Z.T. Fiema

The Finnish Jabal Haroun Project (F|HP) excavation site is a large, ruined archi• carried out its third field work season tectural complex located on a high pla• between August 4 and September 21, teau below the summit of the Moun• 2000. The project is directed by Prof. tain of Aaron (Jabal Harun) near Petra in Jaakko Frosen, University of Helsinki, and southern Jordan. According to Jewish, sponsored by the University of Helsinki Christian and Islamic traditions, the and the Academy of Finland. The mountain is believed to be the burial Project's personnel included almost 30 place of Aaron, Moses' brother. The archaeologists, cartographers, conser• 2000 excavations continued to expose vators and students from Finland, Swe• the mono-apsidal, basilica church, the den, Italy, Jordan and the USA. The chapel, and other structures, all being Fig. 1: The cruciform baptismal font. 20 OCCIDENTS. ORIENT - September2001

The excavations in the western area of the chapel exposed the well-pre• served interior of the structure, inclu• ding benches and pilasters for arch springers. Substantial stone tumble in• side the structure contained numerous fragments of painted wall plaster with geometric and floral designs, but some Greek letters and words were also no• ted. The sounding against the western bench revealed well preserved remains of a masonry-constructed baptismal font of a cruciform type (Fig. 1), which pro• bably belongs to the earliest phase of occupation there. The font was aban• doned and backfilled, probably follo• wing the first destruction of the church and the chapel. The font resembles that discovered in the Petra church in 1996, Fig.2: The courtyard west of the church and the area of the cistern. A and is the second baptismal installation possible Nabataean/Roman period platform for an unknown structure is known from southern )ordan. on the left. The excavations on the western side of the complex exposed well-pre• the components of a Byzantine (5th- the entire room flanking the apse on its served remains of a monumental struc• 7th century A.D.) monastic/pilgrimage southern side (=south pastophorion) ture forming a large, solid podium or center dedicated to St. Aaron. Simul• were also excavated. The apse revealed high base for an unknown superstruc• taneously, the project's survey team two well-preserved rows of the syn- ture (Fig. 2). The masonry type and con• continued its field investigations in the thronon installation but the marble floor struction material of this structure are environs of Jabal Harun. of the apse's interior was poorly pre• not paralleled by any other at the site. The excavations exposed the west• served. Inside the pastophorion, a This structure, probably Nabataean/Ro• ern-central area of the church - origi• large, stone-built tomb-like installation man in date, was seemingly a compo• nally a part of the nave in the early was found. Its interior has yielded only nent of either a larger tower or a sacral phase - which became an open paved some fish bones. The storage function building, but its function during the By• court in the subsequent phase. The of this installation seems plausible, at zantine phase of occupation at the site southern half of the church's apse and least during its later use. remains elusive. Farther east, a series of flagstone pavements were exposed as well as the remains of an arch. A large, multi-roomed structure located nearby features a series of modifications and rebuilding, including the installation of an arch in the doorway, construction of storage installations, wall-supporting buttresses and three water channels. An intensive archaeological survey was conducted in the area south-west of )abal Harun, and on the northern and north-eastern sides of the mountain, a total of ca I square km. Thirty major sites were recorded in the south-west• ern area, including more than 200 bar• rages and terrace walls (in clusters of several structures per site). These wa• ter management installations differ with regard to their location and function (slowing down runoff water or support• ing fertile surface soil in small terrace

(continued on page 21) (continued from page 20) walls, wall plaster, marble pavements large-size tesserae. However, while the and stone installations at the excava• replacement was generally well done, fields). Six Middle and Late Palaeoli• tion site. the removal was often careless, thus the thic sites, including quarries, ridge sites preserved details allow for an overall Further studies and conservation tests reconstruction. This kind of deliberate and microlithic sites, were recorded. were conducted on the mosaic floor Also, remains of an ancient road from yet careful damage is generally dated discovered during the 1999 campaign to the 8th century (late Umayyad-early Wadi' Araba through Abu Khusheiba to and located in the church's narthex (Fig. Petra were documented together with Abbasid period), and is known from 3). Originally, the mosaic featured an other churches in Jordan and Palestine. several small building sites alongside almost symmetrical arrangement of zoo- the road. On the northern and north• and anthropomorphic designs on both The FJHP 2000 fieldwork season pro• eastern side of ]abal Harun, six sites sides of the central door to the basilica, vided a substantial amount of informa• were recorded, including a dwelling a colourful border band of three inter• tion concerning the site and its envi• site which dates from the Nabataean twined bundles or chevrons, and some rons. The general phasing scheme, i.e, through the Islamic periods. separate intricate geometric designs. three major occupational phases of the The project's cartographers continued Except for the entire chevron pattern, basilica, as developed after the 1999 activities to produce a three-dimension• geometric designs, and the occasional campaign, has been largely confirmed al computerised model of the entire fragments of human or animal bodies, by the 2000 season's results. Also, it is jabal Harun mountain and its environs, the designs are not preserved since the increasingly apparent that the time- including the gathering of topographi• mosaic was heavily altered by icono• span of occupation at the monastic/pil• cal and locational information, digital clastic activities. The iconoclasts had grimage site may be extended into the photography and photogrammetry, removed not only almost all faces but early 8th century, and probably later. and actual computer-generated mo• also main parts of human and animal The next fieldwork season of FjHP is delling consolidation and repair of bodies, and replaced them with plain scheduled for late summer 2001. • OCCIDENTS. ORIENT - September2001 21

Eauly Neolithic Gobekli Tepe. A Tcrakfsh- Geuman Pnoject in UppeR Mesopotamia

By: Klaus Schmidt, German Archaeological Institute, Orient Section Berlin (Germany)

The mound of Gobekli Tepe, on top fell into oblivion, and it seems quite clear a dominating landmark for a distance of a high limestone ridge north-east of that no archaeologist reached the site of more than 20 km. the town of Sanliurfa in Upper Meso• until the author's first visit in 1994 potamia, was mentioned first by Peter (Fig. 1; compare the quotation in Hours Until 2000 six campaigns of excava• Benedict in his article about "Survey etal. 1994, 144). With the knowledge tions were conducted by the Museum Work in Southeastern Anatolia" (Bene• of Cayonii and Nevali Cori, it was easy of Sanliurfa and the German Archaeo• dict 1980), which was included in the to recognize in the large limestone slabs logical Institute in Istanbul (Beile-Bohn monograph resulting from the Joint Is• smashed fragments of megalithic PPN et al. 1998; Hauptmann - Schmidt tanbul-Chicago Universities' Prehistoric architecture. 2000; Schmidt 1997; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001). The excavations had been lo• Research in Southeastern Anatolia work It is clear that Gobekli Tepe was not from 1963-1972 (Cambel and Braid- cated at the south-eastern peak, at the an early Neolithic settlement with some south-eastern and the southern slopes, wood 1980). But Benedict did not re• ritual buildings, but a place with a main• cognize the true nature of the site; he and at several areas on the limestone ly ritual function. It was a mountain sanc- plateaus around the mound. did not expect a pre-pottery mound tuaTy (Schmidt 1995). It overlooks the of such a size like Gobekli Tepe, and springs of the Balikh in the east, the The architectural remains of the not in such a position in the landscape. Harran plain in the south and the hills younger layers (EPPNB/MPPNB) are re• Time was not ready to understand the around Urfa in the west and in the north. stricted to stone walls and rooms, all real importance of this site. Gobekli Tepe Coming from Mardin, Gobekli Tepe is with terrazzo floors and some strange 22 OCCIDENTS. ORIENT - September2001

installations, e.g., large stone In front of pillar 9 a stone slap rings or T-shaped pillars, but with an oval cavity, connec• without fireplaces, ovens, or ted with a shallow channel, other usual traces of "domes• was found in situ inserted into tic life". It is the same with the terrazzo floor (Fig. 4). A the so called "Lowenpfeiler- megalithic limestone slap gebaude" (Schmidt 1998, with a rectangular opening in 30ff., Fig.8-10). Two of its the center, surrounded by a four pillars have reliefs of broad collar, was found in the lions. In spite of its denomi• filling of enclosure B. nation "building" it seems The lithics are based most probable that it is not a on naviform core technology complete building but a cel• and tools made from blades. lar-like structure sunk in the Byblos, Helwan and Nemrik mound. The excavated areas, points are common. The ana• ten trenches 9 by 9 m, are lysis of the animal bones re• too small to find some clear• ported a rich fauna of wild ly identifiable limitations of species, such as wild cattle, the buildings exposed. wild ass, gazelle and wild pig But despite the size of the (von den Driesch-Peters buildings of the younger la• 1999; Peters et al. 2000). yers, they seem to be minia• But no domesticated species tures of the structures ex• have been found, as with the posed in the lower layers botanical remains from the (PPNA/EPPNB), found at the lower layers (Neef in prep.-, southern slope (Fig. 2). As there are no botanical the average height of the 13 samples from the younger pillars found so far in the Fig. 1. Gobekli Tepe from the north. layers until now). Only wild younger layers is only species, such as almond and 1.5 m, the 16 in situ ex• pistachio, have been found so (enclosure A, B and C). Some of the posed pillars of the lower layers seem far - and wild grain. to be more than 3 m high (most of them pillars are decorated with reliefs, e.g., snakes, foxes, reptiles, a bull, a boar and The construction of the megalithic are not excavated completely). They buildings of the lower layers was ac• belong to three round or oval enclo• a crane (Fig. 3). The floor was reached in a small section between the pillars. complished by a hunter-gatherer so• sures with a pair of pillars in the centre ciety. It seems obvious that only orga• nized meetings of several groups of hunter-gatherers from territories around Gobekli Tepe would be able to provide the capabilities for such a purpose, meetings that were rooted in a ritual background. So the hypothesis emerg• es that these meetings are the starting point of incipient cultivation, as hun• ter-gatherers living at Gobekli Tepe for an extended time would have caused a serious over-exploitation of the local natural resources. The grassy slopes, which had been reported by Benedict, are still large areas where wild cereals occur. Karacadag, a volcanic mountain favoured as the homeland of cultivated grains by genetical analysis (Heun et al. 1998), can be seen on the horizon looking to the north-east from Gobekli Tepe. Gobekli Tepe quite pro-

Fig. 2: Gobekli Tepe, the excavations on the southern slope, with enclosures B and C with megalithic limestone pillars. (continued on page 23) (continued from page 22) Benedict, P., "Survey Work in Southeastern Ana• bably will be a key-site in un• tolia". In: H. Cambel and derstanding the process of R.J. Braidwood (eds.), The the development of hunter- Joint Istanbul - Chicago gatherers into farmers. Universities' Prehistoric Re• search in Southeastern Anatolia. Istanbul, 1980, Acknowledgements: The 150-191. excavations were gratefully Gambel, H. and supported by Sanliurfa Dev- Braidwood R.)., "The Joint let Su Isleri, Theodor Wie- Istanbul - Chicago Univer• gand Gesellschaft Berlin and sities' Prehistoric Research ArchaeNova e.V. Heidel• in Southeastern Anatolia." berg. More detailed reports Istanbul, 1980. will be published in Istanbul- er Mitteilungen des Deut- von den Driesch, A. schen Archaologischen Insti- and Peters, J., "Vorlaufiger tuts. Bericht iiber archaozoolo- gische Untersuchungen am Gobekli Tepe und am Giircutepe bei Urfa, References: Tiirkei." In: Istanbuler Mit• teilungen 49, 1999,23-39. Beile-Bohn, M . , Gerber, Ch., Morsch, M. Hauptmann, H. und and Schmidt, K., "Neoli- Schmidt, K., "Fruhe Tem- thische Forschungen in pel - fruhe Gotter?" In: Obermesopotamien. Deutsches Archaologisches Giircutepe und Gobekli Institut (ed.), Archaolo- Tepe." Mit einem Beitrag gische Entdeckungen. Die von M. GeiB und Forschungen des Deut- S. Obermeier, unter Mi- schen Archaologischen In- stituts im 20. Jahrhundert. tarbeit von K. Faulhaber. In: Fig. 3. Gobekli Tepe, enclosure B, pillar 9, limestone, relief Istanbuler Mitteilungen 48, of a fox. 1998(1999), 5-78. (continued on page 28) 28 OCCIDENTJL ORIENT- September2001

(continued from page 23) tenbdatt 2.1,1997,70- 79. Schmidt, K., "Friih- Zaberns Bildbande zur neolithische Tempel. Archaologie. Mainz, Ein Forschungsbericht 2000, 258-266. zum prakeramischen Heun, M., Schafer- Neolithikum Pregl, R., Klawan, D., Obermesopotami- Castagna, R., ens." In: Mitteilungen A c c e r b i , M . , der Deutschen Orient- Borghi, B. and Gesellschaft 130, Salamini, F., "Site of 1998,17-49. Einkorn Wheat Domes• Schmidt, K., "Friihe tication Identified by Tier und Menschen- DNA." In: Science 278, bilder vom Gobekli 1997, 1312-1314. Tepe, Kampagne Hours, F . , Fig. 4. Gobekli Tepe, enclosure B, stone slap with oval cavity, 1995-1998. " In: Is- Aurenche, O., connected with a shallow channel, in situ tanbuler Mitteilungen Cauvin, ].,Cauvin, M.- 49, 1999, 5-21. C, Copeland, L. and Schmidt, K., "Erst Sanlaviile, P, "Atlas des sites du Proche Schmidt, K., "Investigations in the kam der Tempel, dann die Stadt." Orient (14000-5700 bp)." Travaux de Upper Mesopotamian Early Neolithic: Bericht zu den Grabungen am la Maison de I'Orient mediterranean Gobekli Tepe and Gurciitepe." In: Neo- Gurciitepe und am Gobekli Tepe 1996- no. 24. Paris 1994. Lithics. A Newsletter of Southwest Asian 1999. " In: Istanbuler Mitteilungen 50, Lithics Research 2/95, 1995,9-10. 2000, 5-40. Peters, J., Helmer, D.,von den Driesch, A. and SanaSegui, M., "Early Schmidt, K., "News from the Hilly Schmidt, K., "Gobekli Tepe, South• Animal Husbandry in the Northern Le• Flanks". Zum Forschungsstand des eastern Turkey. A Preliminary Report on vant." In: Paleorient 25/2, 2000, 27- obermesopotamischen Fruhneolithi- the 1995-1999 Excavations." In: Paleo• 48. kums." In: Archaologisches Nachrich- rient 26/1, 2001,45-54. • OCCIDENT & ORIENT-September2001 23

Al-Bassah Caue near* luaq al-Aram

By: Mohammed Waheeb, Director of the Baptism Site Project, Amman (Jordan)

Iraq al-Amir is situated on the wes• which links al-Bassah with Iraq al-Amir. of Antiquities. The excavations inside tern side of Wadi al-Sir, about 17 km The cave was dug in the natural lime• the cave revealed remains of a church west of Amman. This area includes a stone rock, and the surrounding area with colored mosaic floors dated to the Hellenistic monumental building (Qasr was used as a cemetery during the Sixth Century A.D. The second phase al-Abd). Field surveys of the area du• Roman-Byzantine periods. Several of occupation inside the cave dated ring the last ten years revealed the pre• rock-cut tombs were noticed on the back to the Umayyad and Mamluke sence of natural and man-made caves western side of the cave, mostly periods (Islamic era). In 1994 the au• located on steep cliffs. robbed in antiquity; the area is now thor conducted a salvage excavation in Among these caves is al-Bassah used as a cemetery by local people. front of the cave, which revealed the Cave, which is located near al-Bassah The cave was investigated during village near the modern paved road 1974 by a team from the Department (continued on page 24) (continued from page 23) presence of an Early Bronze Age ce• the presence of a church with well-cut cinity of Iraq al-Amir, ignoring the re• metery. The limits of the cemetery are limestone ashlars and a white mosaic gion of al-Bassah and the Byzantine still unknown and only four tombs were floor pavement in the central aisles. The settlement in this area. Most of the Byz• excavated, all of them partly disturbed discovered material and the inscription antine sites were apparently reused by bulldozing and ancient silting of the in the area of the apse dated the church during the Islamic periods. rock-cut chambers. A limited survey was to the late Byzantine period (Sixth Cen• The al-Bassah cave deserves restora• conducted in the area of the cemetery. tury A.D.). tion and preservation and some degree It revealed rock-cut classical tombs, cis• The discoveries of two churches, one of aesthetically and archaeologically ap• terns and wells, wine presses, rock-cut inside the cave and the second out• propriate development, so that it features such as quarries and channels, side it, indicate that the cave was very becomes again, like Qasr al-Abd, a fo• and Early Bronze, Roman and Byzan• important during the Byzantine peri• cal point for the whole area of Iraq al- tine pottery fragments. od. Previous archaeological investiga• Amir. • In 1996 more excavations were con• tions and surveys were primarily con• ducted in front of the cave, revealing cerned with sites in the immediate vi• 24 OCCIDENT &. ORIENT- September2001

Conference: Fifth Millenium of the Inuention of Wmting in Mesopotamia

Hotel AL-Manscm, Baghdad, 2.0 - 2.6.3.2.001

By Joachim Marzahn, Vorderasiatlsches Museum Berlin (Germany)

Soon after the turn of the millenium lution in communication dominated the The focus on writing was balanced by of modern times, which occured in lectures. Also considered were the da• reports of archaeological investigations, 2001, the Ministry of Culture of the ting of the time of genesis (recently excavations, geographical patterns of Republic of Iraq invited scholars from proved by C 14 dating about or before settlement, single monuments, and around the world to an international 3200 B.C.) as well as the social, ideo• questions of cultural history. conference on the invention of writing logical and natural environments and The hosts of the conference offered a in Mesopotamia. Numerous scholars single cultural characteristics (i.e., di• rich cultural program (for instance, re• from many countries came to Baghdad rections of reading and writing).Other ceptions by the minister and a marve• to spend three days together with Ira• broad themes enduded writing as a vis• lous evening in the theater seeing the qi colleagues viewing and assessing the ualization of thinking in certain forms, epic of Gilgamesh) and two extraordi• newest results in the field of research the wide-spread cuneiform variants of nary excursions to the main places of on writing. The cuneiform writing sys• the script, their mutual influences, pa- archaeological interest in Iraq, like Uruk, tem was of primary interest but also dif• laeographic lines of tradition, and the Assur, Nimrud, Niniveand Hatra, as well ferent and much younger writing sys• effects of different cultural regions in the as the offer to go to Babylon, Kerbela tems were included in the lectures.The Near East. Special research on certain and Nadjaf. participants in the meeting had the op• monuments, on forms and formulas and portunity to get an overview of almost genres of literature, and considerations This very successful meeting on the all writing systems in the history of the of document keeping and questions of banks of the Tigris contributed once geographic region of the Near East. A education and school systems comple• more to better understanding among summary volume of collected papers ted the main subjects of the conference. scholars, and to a good relationship with will be published on the "classic" cu• Other contributions dealt with scriptur• Iraqis today, showing that their rich neiform and also the younger letter al peculiarities, for instance so-called cultural heritage is well protected and systems up to the use of Arabic script. astroglyphs on Assyrian monuments, or that the ongoing embargo is anachro• animals in writing, and the most recent nistic and should come to an end.B The investigations about the genesis developments in computerization in and development of writing as a revo• Assyriology. OCCIDENT & ORIENT - September2001 25

Tell Khanasmf Caoe Sounding

By: Bernd Miiller-Neuhof, German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in Amman (Jordan)

In May 2000, as part of the "Prehis- of ca. 3,10 m below the surface. ted by the pottery and the dating of torical Palaeoenvironment and Archae• The whole stratigraphy of the soun• the wall construction. Architectural fea• ology of the Khanasiri Region" project, ding is characterised by debris; no clear, tures were also found in other caves in a sounding was made in the entrance undisturbed layers could be detected. the vicinity, especially in caves in the of a small cave (cave No. 5), disco• This is mirrored in the pottery found in modern village of Khanasiri itself, pro• vered during the 1999 survey (see the different layers of debris. Pottery, ving the intensive utilisation of these natural shelters for living and storage K. Bart et al. in Occident &. Orient probably from the Late Iron Age, Ro• 4,1 1999, 23ff.) The cave, situated man, Byzantine, Ummayyad and Mam- purposes through time. on the southern slope below Tell Kha• luke periods, was found in almost all nasiri, is distinguished by a relatively layers. The "fresh" condition of the Acknowledgements: large entrance. The interior floor of the breaks of the pottery hints at their utili• cave is covered with thick layers of ash, sation and discard dose to this area. It This small sounding was part of the probably of recent date, so that the can be assumed that the cave was used project on the "Prehistorical Palaeoen• present height of the cave's interior in these periods. Cleaning activities in• vironment and Archaeology of the Kha• reaches about 1,20 m. During the 1999 side the cave may explain the mixture nasiri Region" directed by Prof. Dr. Faw- survey many Middle and Upper of pottery stemming from different pe• waz al-Khraysheh (Department of An• Palaeolithic artifacts were discovered in riods in the debris layers in front of the tiquities of Jordan, Amman) and Prof. the vicinity of the cave. The aims of this cave. For the construction of the above Dr. Ricardo Eichmann (German Archae• sounding were to establish whether the mentioned walls we have a provisional ological Institute - Orient section, Ber• cave contained in situ stratified depo• terminus ante quern of Late Iron Age. lin), for whose support I am very grate• sits dating to these periods, and to ex• Pottery from this period was found in ful. I'm very thankful to Dr. Khaled Abu amine any traces of Middle or Upper the area of the lowest layer of the wall, Ghanimeh (Yarmouk University, Irbid), Palaeolithic activity in the cave. on the bedrock. The lithic assemblage who simultaneously carried out a soun• The terrace-like area in front of the discovered in the excavation is charac• ding in neighbouring Dayr Waraq, for cave was chosen for this sounding and terised by unspecific large flakes, corti• his support and help. I'm also very a trench was dug directly in front of the cal flakes and other primary products thankful to Khaled al-Jbour, inspector of cave entrance. In contrast to the sur• mostly retouched by use. Besides one the Department of Antiquities of Jordan face of the area in front of the cave, intrusive exception of a probable Chal- in Maftaq. where just a few very rolled pottery colithic artifact, these tools can be da• I acknowledge the logistical support fragments, eroded from the tell itself, ted to all periods from the Bronze Age provided by the Institute of Archaeolo• were found, the uppermost layer of onwards. No clear tool types were dis• gy and Anthropology at Yarmouk Uni• dark ashy soil contained a relatively covered which could offer clear dates. versity in Irbid and express special large amount of pottery with non-rolled Dating is only possible due to the pri• thanks to Prof. Dr. Ziad al-Saad, the di• edges, in addition to some lithic arti• mary production, characterised by thick rector of the institute. facts. and partly cortical platforms. Further thanks for logistical support The same observation could also be Although no evidence for utilisation are due to the German Protestant Insti• made in the following layers of debris. of the cave in Middle and/or Upper Pal• tute and its former director Dr. Hans- One of them is characterised by large aeolithic periods could be found, it may Dieter Bienert. still be assumed that the cave was oc• amounts of limestone pebbles, the other I'm very grateful to Dr. Ute Wagner- by a greater amount of soil. Between cupied in these periods. If the bedrock Lux and Dr. Karel Vriezen, who made 1,70 m and 1,80 m below the surface inside the cave is at the same level as the preliminary dating of the pottery, that discovered in the sounding, the two walls were discovered. One runs and Prof. Gary Rollefson for his very in• cave would have been approximately in an east-west direction and probably formative remarks on the lithics. blocked the cave entrance. The other 3.6 m high with a floor area of appro• wall, further to the south, is a curved ximately 20m': the cave could have Reference: wall, and was probably part of a round served as a comfortable shelter. How• Bartl, K., Eichmann, R, Khraysheh, F, structure. The masonry of these walls ever, later occupations of this cave prob• "Archaeological Survey of the Khanasiri was very rough, and no mortar was ably destroyed all remains of prehisto• Region/Northern Jordan, Preliminary Re• used. The walls were founded on a thin ric occupation. During the same periods sults." In: Occident &. Orient 4, No. 18J2, layer of rich red-brown soil lying on the as the tell itself was occupied, the cave December 1999, 23-26. • bedrock, which was exposed at a depth was intensively used, as is demonstra• 26 OCCIDENTS. ORIENT September 2001

Fttom Gabana to Tall Knedij (Mesopotamia)

By: Stefan Heidemann, University of Jena (Germany) and Hans-Christoph Noeske, University of Frankfurt (Germany)

A new coin find from Tall Knedij in excavating the site, which was settled the north Khabur valley (Syria) sheds - with interruptions - from the 3rd light on the relationship between Ga- Millenium BC to the 13th Century. AD. dara in the Decapolis (Jordan) and set• In the 1st Century. BC Tall Knedij tlements in the Roman eastern military formed a small village within the border zone. classical region of Mesopotamia. Its Tall Knedij lies about 20 km south of ancient name is unknown. The Parthian- Hassake on the western bank of the Roman burial no. 77 was comparatively Khabur. Since 1993 a German mission rich, and produced a lot of artifacts. On of the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin one of the left ribs of the corpse a under the direction of Evelyn Klengel- corroded copper coin was discovered Brand and Lutz Martin has been (fig. la, b). In spite of its very poor

Fig.1a: City coin of Gadara found on Tall Knedij.

Fig. 1 b: Another specimen of the same type in better state of preservation.

preservation the identification of the coin was successful. It was minted at Gadara in the Decapolis between 47 and 39 BC. On the obverse the bust of Tyche facing to the right is visible and on the Fig. 2: The circulation area of the city coinage of Gadara and the military roads reverse a cornucopiaeand inscription of northern Syria/Mesopotamia. (SNG-ANS 6, no. 1287-1290). OCCIDENT &. ORIENT - September2001 27

Copper coins were civic coinages Alexandria in Egypt and the urban cen• Bostra and the Syrian desert border with destined only for local circulation. The tres situated on the important military the military camps in northern Meso• recent find belongs to a restricted cir• roads in northern Syria and northern potamia. culation area in northern Palestine and Mesopotamia, like Antiochia, Hierapo- So the coin from Gadara in Tall Knedij Arabia, but Tall Knedij is about 700 km lis, Zeugma, Carrhae (Harran), and is a counterpart of the occassional im• from Gadara, its place of origin (fig. 2). Edessa (ar-Ruha, Urfa). Therefore the ported coin of northern Syrian and Mes- A possible interpretation of a "local" connection beween the cities of the De• opotmian origin into the region of the coin travelling so far can be achieved capolis and those in northern Mesopo• Decapolis. It reflects the movements of by a comparison with finds of "foreign" tamia primarily had not an economic soldiers or military units between the coins in the region of Galilee, Samaria but a military character. Phoenician and Arabian cities in the and the Decapolis. From the Decapolis the road led via south and the cities and villages in the There are very few, and they always Damascus and Palmyra to the north and north-east on the Roman-Parthian bor• come from the same places, such as east, and connected the garrisons of der. • Donors to the Library

We would like to express our thanks to the German Archaeological Institute, Orient Section, Berlin (Germany); German Archaeological Institute, Damascus Branch (Syria); German Archaeological Institute, Rome (Italy); German Archaeological Institute, Madrid (Spain); Romisch-Germanische Kommission, Frankfurt (Germany); Kommission fur Allgemeine und Vergleichende Archaologie, Bonn (Germany); Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Amman (Jordan); Institut Francais d'Archeologie du Proche- jd^~-