ACOR Newsletter Vol

ACOR Newsletter J~i JI • Vol. 7.2 - Winter 1995 Culture History of the Between May 1992 and April 1994, the American Center of - Byzantine Ecclesiastical Oriental Research (ACOR) conducted archaeological excava Complex at Petra tions in Petra at the site of a Byzantine ecclesiastical complex. The site is located on the gently sloping southside of Jebel Qabr Zbigniew T. Fiema Jumay'an, in the north-central partof the Petra valley, about150 m east of the Temple of the Winged Lions. The total excavated area measures approximately 55 m (east/west) by ca. 22 m (north/south). The following is a short summary of informa tion concerning the history of the site, based upon a strati graphic-architectural analysis by the author and supported by studies conducted by architect Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos. Pre-Church Phases The excavations recovered evidence for the pre-ecclesiasti cal occupation at the site. A sequence of floors, and remains of domestic structures were found to the south of the southeast corner of the later church; these are dated to the first through third centuries A.D. The earliest substantial architectural re mains at the site include walls in the northeast corner ofthe later basilica, which in this phase presumably formed a structure (Room XII). No impact of the otherwise well-documented earthquake of May 19, A.D. 363, could be discerned at the site. However, sometime in the later fourth century A.D., there was increased building activity in the area re sulting in a domestic quarter. The excavations .'<; exposed whatseems to be the southernwing of a residence. Itincludes three rooms (I, II, XII) and anopencourt (ilIA). Room I (=later Scroll Room) features the remains of three arches on which the floor of an upper story rested. Room II still displays traces of its original ;:eo. barrel vaulting. The rooms are well ,'~ built which may explain why they ~. were subsequently incorporated into the church complex. The drawing at left shows the church being built to the south of the earlier buildings. The Ecclesiastical Complex Subsequently, the complex was remodelled, prob ably in the early sixth century (see plan, p. 3). The The data strongly suggest that the church complex changes in the church proper included the insertion of was constructed in the early-to-mid-fifth century A.D. the side apses into the pastophoria and the construction Furthermore, the complex had two clearly distinct of an elevated platform (bema) in phases. In the early phase (see plan below), the church the sanctuary. Mosaic floors consisted of a nave with an apse at the eastern end and were laid in the north two side aisles terminating in rectangular rooms (pasto aisle and in the phoria) to the east. The nave had a stone pavement in eastern part which shale may have predominated. The western two of the thirds ofthe southern aisle was decorated with a mosaic which included anthropomorphic designs; this mosaic was retained in the following phase. Itis not known how the floors in the easternmost part of the south aisle orthe north aisle were decora ted in this period. The details of the early sanctuary are not readily south apparent except for part of a i s Ie, anabstract mosaic floor that while the nave was found in a probeunder was paved in opus the later sanctuary. The sectile style, in a combi early ecclesiastical complex nation of marble and shale. also included an entrance The interior received lavish marble vestibule (narthex), an decoration, including screens for the atrium, and a row of three apses and the bema, and marble covers for the stylobates. The apses' semidomes and the clerestory walls above the arches were decorated with wall mosaics. Benches were installed along the rooms (IX, X, walls. An ambo (pulpit) was erected in the northwest XI) witha por comer of the bema, probably in the same place its tico on the predecessor existed in the previous phase. west side of Activities outside the church proper included the the atrium. demolition of the narthex, which expanded the space of Parallels from the atrium. The atrium received a peristyle form with elsewhere in two-story porticoes (see drawing above). A large cistern dicatethatone and a settling tank were constructed in the center of the of the western atrium. Beyond the new wall which limited the atrium rooms (X) was on the north side, a large room (VI) was built, probably a baptistry. a chapel. Sometime later in the sixth century, a five Also, on its tiered, semicircular synthronon and, probably, a bishop's northern side, throne, were installed in the central apse (see drawing the complex below). Room I may have become a repository for the incorporated domestic structures of the preceding phase, that is, Rooms I, II, and Court yard IlIA (see 00000 drawing,p.l). On the north side of the atrium, Room V and Court yardIIIB were constructedat this time. 2 papyrus Post-Ecclesiastical Phases scrolls at the same time, al Following the fire, the atrium was cleared and a non though this ecclesiastical occupation occurred there, primarily in may have oc the southwest comer where domestic installations for curred later. storage, food processing, and cooking were erected. The re Room XI and, possibly, other rooms were reoccupied. mains which The gutted church was systematically stripped of useful date to the material; the nave's marble floor was almost completely time directly removed. Most probably, marble pavers and decorative before a fire elements were removed for reuse, or sale, while gold destroyed the plated tesserae and glass were collected for reuse or church at the melting. Notably, much of the already broken marble end of the furnishing of the church was left in place, which may sixth century indicate that marble-burning for lime was not a high indicate that priority. Also, the remaining metal door fittings were another reor left in the derelict church. This non-ecclesiastical occu ganization or pation continued well into the seventh century. Some remodelling time during that century, the complex suffered a struc of the interior tural collapse, evidently due to a seismic event. How of the basilica ever, some columns, portions of walls, and the had begun. semidomes over the apses may have survived. Follow Piles of con ing the first earthquake, a clearance of the atrium was struction ma attempted once again. No evidence of permanent habi terials such as tation can be associated with this phase, although tem wood, water porary occupation is possible. Activities took place in andflue pipes, Room I and in the north apse, perhaps in an attempt to stone paving reactivate the old water channel which runs from the slabs, and he north. Also, the north half of the synthronon may have matite bits been removed at that time. used in paints In addition to the continuous process of natural for ceramics deterioration and decay of the ruins, the complex was and for wall certainly subjected to at least one more substantial seis plaster were mic-related destruction. During that event, the apses stored inside the church. Large storage jars were also would have completely collapsed. Later temporary oc located in the south aisle in this phase. To facilitate the cupations are indicated by the presence of Umayyad storage and handling of the jars, a wooden deck was laid through Ottoman ceramics andUmayyad-Abbasid glass. over the mosaic in the south aisle. Door panels and some However, these come from much disturbed layers. metal fittings were removed from the doorways. The Simple stone enclosures and supports were erected in beginning of the removal of some of the marble furnish the atrium area to prevent it from being filled with ing from the church is also possible. The anticipated collapsing stones. Limited farming and/or grazing could remodelling activities were never implemented. There have begun in some parts of the ruined complex. The is no indication whatsoever that these activities, nor any uppermost layers at the site consist of windblown and others for which the excavation have provided evi water-borne sand. The most recent remains at the site, dence, were connected to the earthquake of A.D. 551, probably dating to within the last 100 years, include a which is elsewhere postulated to have had a severe simple retaining enclosure northwest of the ruined impact on the city of Petra. church and evidence of stone clearing and ploughing. The latest certain date in the papyri is A.D. 582. A fire The excavation phase of the Petra ChurchProjectwas sometime after that date destroyed the church andcaused funded by the United States Agency for International its abandonment. Isolated acts of vandalism and looting Development (USAID), with contributions from the seem to have occurred inthe church properimmediately Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan and the before the fire. The possibility of arson cannot be ex World Monuments Fund. The project was directed ini cluded. The nave and aisles were strewn with burnt tiallybyKennethW. Russell and thenbyACOR Director wood and ash, but the church was still structurally Pierre M. Bikai, while work in the field was supervised sound. Room I wasburned too, and the charred remains by Zbigniew T. Fiema, Robert Schick and Khairieh 'Amr of the wooden ceiling covered the'burned scroll archive. (1992-93), and by Zbigniew T. Fiema (1993-94). The The atrium area, however, seems to have been largely drawings here are by Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos and unaffected by the fire. the ground plans by Samer Shraideh. 3 The 1995 Field Season natural resources available to them, including site loca tion and access to local and long-distance trade goods.

Load more