Umayri in Jordan During the LB/Iron I Transition1 Larry G

The Settlement and Fortification of Tell al-'Umayri in Jordan during the LB/Iron I Transition1 Larry G. Herr Introduction The earliest inhabitants at the site in the Early Bronze Age I apparently did not fortify it, Six seasons of excavation at Tell al-'Umayri in and during EB 11-111 a large rural site grew over Jordan (ca. 15 km south of central Amman along the ridge and down its slopes. After its gradual the Airport Highway; see fig. 1) have revealed demise in EB IV and a hiatus during the early the most coherent and best preserved fortifica stages of the Middle Bronze Age II, a new settle tion system in all of the southern Levant from ment arose in MB IIC (chocolate-on-white pot the Late Bronze to Iron I transition. The domes tery was found throughout the loci from this tic architecture associated with these fortifica settlement). Apparently these settlers felt a lack tions also represents the best preserved highland of security and constructed the first fortifica settlement; in places its walls reach almost 2.5 tions, a beaten earth rampart (glacis) typical of meters high. So far, the remains have been other sites at the time. But rather than build a uncovered at the western (Fields A and B) and rampart from the present level of the ridge, they eastern (Field F) edges of the site (fig. 2). combined the rampart with a moat which they 'Umayri was settled not because of its stra cut across the ridge; the same combination of tegic setting (in fact, it is almost surrounded moat with rampart is also found on the western by higher hills), but because the only water side of the lower city at Hazor. The builders at source between Amman and Madaba is located 'Umayri used solution cavities and small caves at its base. The site was originally a ridge which in the rock to bring the level of the ridge extended from hills to the west. The rise of down almost 5 m (bedrock is no. 15 in fig. 3; the mound above the ridge today is because see also the more detailed drawing in fig. 4), of archaeological deposits, especially those dis cussed in this paper (fig. 3). Fig. 1. Map of the Madaba Plains region 1 The excavation of Tell al-'Umayri is one of the compo nents of the Madaba Plains Project with Lawrence T. Geraty Amman as Senior Director and Co-Directors 0ystein S. LaBianca, Ran 0 dall W. Younker, Douglas R. Clark, and myself. Field seasons discussed in this article took place in 1984, 1987, 1989, 1992, Jawa 0 consortium of institu 1994, and 1996 and were sponsored by a 0 tions led by Andrews University and include Atlantic Union Col 'l.Jmayri lege, Canadian Union College, LaSierra University, and Walla Walla College. I have directed the excavations at 'Umayri from the outset (with Geraty during the first two seasons). Part of the analysis for this paper was done while I was Annual Professor at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem. I 0 Jalul wish to thank its trustees, its director, Sy Gitin, and the Albright staff for their support. 167 The Archaeology ofJordan and Beyond Fig. 2. Topographic map of Tell al O- Field E Tell al-cUmayri 'Umayri, showing the excavated fields. Topographic Plan, April 1, 1997 Created from Data Co llected during Madaba Plains Project 1996season by: creating a level, floorlike Anthony Aal,ik Glenn Blackwelder bottom of the moat (fig. 5). Jon Cole Although the extant rampart / has eroded considerably (no. 10 in fig. 3), it most likely began its ascent from the eastern side of the moat which now lies . ') \ beneath the LB/Iron I retain \ ;) ingwall (no. 12 in fig. 3). It rose I to its crest about 10 m higher, / //~ I beneath the LB/Iron I perime // / ter wall and houses (nos. 1-6 in / // / /' // ( fig. 3). Whether it descended '-l<iO sharply or gradually east of the N crest is not yet known. There is )-o------6().000 meters Fig. 3. Schematic section of the defensive system at Tell al-'Umayri (looking south) Tell al-cUmayri Section of Western Defense System-Field B Iron II - Iron I c=J Middle Bronze c=J - 9 13mMSL* 2 Bedrock t,m - 9 10 - 905 Om IOm - 90 1 I I II II I I Square 7K80 ~f89 7J88 7J87 7J86 7J85 7J84 168 .

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