Ancient roads in the Madaba Plains of Transjordan: Research from a geographic perspective Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Borstad, Karen A. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 24/09/2021 05:00:50 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284261 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy sut)mitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may t>e from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or irKJistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, t>eginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overiaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9' black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell lnformatk>n and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 ANCIENT ROADS IN THE MADABA PLAINS OF TRANSJORDAN; RESEARCH FROM A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE by Karen A. Borstad Copyright © Karen A. Borstad 2000 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2000 UMI Number: 9992076 Copyright 2000 by Borstad, Karen A. All rights reserved. UMI ® UMI Microform 9992076 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Commi.ttee, we certify chat we have read the dissertation prepared by gar-oy. ann Rr>rg«-ari entitled Ancient Roads in the Madafca Plains of Transiordan; Research from a Geographic Perspective and recommend chac ic be accepted as fulfilling Che dissercacion requiremenc for Che Degree of Dnotor n-f Philnsonhy 7. Dace 2. /Jo^f :2-coc> Michael E. 'Jlonine Dace il; 4aj 2-OQQ Dace Dace Dace m J. Edward Wright Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify Chat I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend chac ic be accepced as fulfilling Che dissercacion requiremenc. ^ J ^-*•7 6 r Dissercacion Director William G. Dever Dace 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial flilfiilment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank the American Center for Oriental Research in Amman, Jordan, for financial support in the form of the USIA Fellowship for the year 1998-1999. Special thanks to Pierre and Patricia Bikai and the dedicated staff at ACOR for their active promotion of a positive research environment. The Madaba Plains Project and its directors have provided ongoing financial support and fieldwork opportunities for which I am grateful. I also wish to thank the Advanced Resources Technology Group at the University of Arizona, especially Craig Wissler and Phil Guertin, for their assistance and generous provision of GIS equipment and technical support services. I thank the members of my dissertation committee for their skill and encouragement while negotiating the process of an interdisciplinary dissertation. Special thanks to my advisor, William G. Dever, for his enthusiasm and support of new methods and ideas. Finally, many thanks are due to my family, fnends, and colleagues, who provided endless encouragement, and especially to Laura and Jennifer, whose inspiration and support brought joy to the process. I wish to convey special thanks to my sister, Marcia, for her unflagging support and personal assistance during my many trips to Jordan. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES 8 ABSTRACT 10 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 11 LI The Problem 14 1.2 Definition of the Objects of Study 15 /. 2.1. The Roads. 15 Cross-Countrv Highways 15 Regional Roads 16 1.2.2. The Study Area. 17 1.3 The Methodology 20 1.3.1 Geographic Models. 21 1.3.2 Geographic Information Systems Analysis. 22 Geographical Analysis 23 Chronological Analysis 23 1.4 Interpretive Frameworks 24 1.4.1 Theoretical Foundations. 25 1.4.2 Application to the Present Study. 27 1.5 Summary: Research Objectives 28 CHAPTER TWO: THE GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ROADS 30 2.1 Introduction 30 2.2 Previous Research in Spatial Modelling 33 2.2.1 Theoretical Foundations. 33 2.2.2 Review of Settlement-based Models. 36 2.2.3 Review of Settlement-based Road Models in the LevatU 38 2.2.4 Surface-based Models. 42 2.3 The Madaba Plains Geographic Models 44 2.3.1 The Regional Model. 44 2.3.2 The International Model. 45 2.4 Conclusion 46 CHAPTER THREE; PREVIOUS RESEARCH ON ROMAN ROADS 48 3.1 Introduction 48 3.2 Terminology 51 3.2.1 Research Terminology. 53 3.2.2 Review of Terminology in Textual Sources. 54 3.3 Roman Roads: Archaeological Identification 59 3.3.1 Highways. 59 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Milestones 61 Characteristic Features 63 3.3.2 Secondary Roads. 66 3.4 Road Sites in the Madaba Plains............ 67 3.5 The lia Traiana nova Route. 70 3.5.1 Routes through the Madaba Plain: Review of Hypotheses. 71 3.5.2 Critique of Previous Models. 72 The Livias-Esbus Milestones 72 The as-Suq Milestone 73 Milestone II from Philadelphia 75 3.6 Conclusion 79 CHAPTER FOUR: ROADS AND LANDSCAPE IN ROMAN IDEOLOGY 84 4.1 Introduction 84 4.2 Landscape and Ideology 85 4.3 Geographic Information and the Ideology of Empire 90 4.3.1 Introduction. 90 4.3.2 The Onomastikon of Eusebius. 93 4.3.3 The Tabula Peutingeriatta. 95 4.4 Rababatora-Philadeiphia in the Tabula Peutingeriana: New Assessments.....98 4.5 Conclusion 101 CHAPTER FIVE: MODELING ROADS IN THE MADABA PLAINS 103 5.1 Introduction 103 5.2 The via Traiana nova in 111-114 CE 104 5.2.1 Chronological Data. 104 5.2.2 Relationship of Nabataean Roads. 105 5.2.3 The Place Rababatora. 108 5.3 The Subsequent Road Developments 112 5.3.1 The Eastern Route 113 5.3.2 The Western Rotite 114 5.4 The Madaba Plains Regional Roads 116 5.4.1 Verification of the Geographically-derived Road. 116 Livias-Esbus Road. 117 Traditional Roads. 117 5.4.2 Natural Routes and Documented Roads in the Madaba Plain. 118 Maanith Road 118 Masuh Road 119 5.5 Conclusion.......................... 121 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS 123 6.1 Introduction 123 6.2 The via Traiana nova and its Interconnections in the Madaba Plains 124 6.3 Interpretation: Demographic and Economic Effects 126 6.4 The Landscape Method 130 APPENDIX A: THE geographic DATA 132 A.l The Regional Model 132 A. 1.1 The Digital Elevation Model. 132 A. 1.2 The Cost Grids. 133 A.2 The International Model: Thomsen Map Conversion 136 APPENDIX B: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA 138 B.l Sites in the International Model 138 B.I.I Milestones. 138 B. 1.2 Occupation Sites. 138 B. 1.3 Distance Measurements. 139 B.2 Sites in the Regional Model 139 B. 2.1 The Roadways. 140 B. 2.2 Geo-referencing Lost Milestones. 141 B. 2.3 Verification of Questionable Milestones. 142 B.3 Regional Model Road Sites 144 APPENDIX C: FIGURES 147 REFERENCES 199 8 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1, Orientation map of central Transjordan towns 148 Figure 2, Inscription of Trajan announcing his new road 149 Figure 3, Material remains of the Livias - Esbus road 149 Figure 4, Orientation map of study region in central Transjordan 150 Figure 5, GIS model showing geographic features in the Madaba Plains 151 Figure 6, Example of hypothetical pre-Roman roads 152 Figure 7, Schematic models of continuous space (a) and discrete space (b) 153 Figure 8, Optimal path simulated between tower and town 153 Figure 9, Optimal path simulation compared to material remains 154 Figure 10, Elevation contour map showing plains and wadis 155 Figure 11, GIS model grid representing categories of elevation 156 Figure 12, Friction grid representing the percent of slope 157 Figure 13, Comparison of two geographically-derived