The view from ‘pre-Crusader’ Shawbak: towards a first contextualization through GIS visibility and spatial analyses

The view from ‘pre-Crusader’ Shawbak: towards a first contextualization through GIS visibility and spatial analyses The purpose of this study is to provide a first preliminary interpretation of part of the evidence from Shawbak castle which attests to the presence of a ‘pre-Crusader, probably Byzantine fort. The strategic features of the location of the fort, in particular a great abundance of water resources, made it indeed strategically advantageous during the Crusader period and in the later Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. Stratigraphic evidence from readings of extant buildings and excavations revealed that the first Crusader foundation of the castle was laid out upon the remains of a LateRoman/Byzantine fortification identified in different parts of the castle. The presence of such fortification should probably be considered contextual to the presence of major forts and potential watchtower sites that have been documented by previous surveys in the area, in particular, a system of strategic locations depending on the castellum of Da’janiya betweenthe Desert highway to the east and the Via Nova Traiana to the west. The need to protect the fertile strip of land east of Shawbak and the natural resources of the area might have required a system of visual control attested to in other nearby regions, which could have involved a signaling network in communication with Shawbak. In this paper, a series of visibility analyses are proposed in order to demonstrate that such system could have worked for Byzantine Shawbak.

Preliminary remarks on the Iron Age Cypriot imports in Tell Keisan, a Phoenician city in Lower Galilee (Israel)

Preliminary remarks on the Iron Age Cypriot imports in Tell Keisan, a Phoenician city in Lower Galilee (Israel) The paper deals with one of several scientific topics mirrored in the history of Tell Keisan, specifically the relationships between Israel/Palestine, Cyprus, and Phoenicia, and is based primarily on the hitherto unpublished Cypriot decorated pottery finds from this site. The earliest occurrence of the Iron Age Cypriot imports at Keisan has been recorded in Stratum 8 (10th century BC), while their increased quantities appear in Strata 5 and 4 (c. 8th-7th century BC). The Black-on-Red ware is the most numerous, while the White Painted and Bichrome wares are quite rare. In Stratum 3 (580-380 BC), the number of Cypriot imports drops dramatically. This was probably the result of a rapid change in the political and then economic situation in this region. In 525 BC, Cyprus became part of the fifth Persian satrapy. This must have had a disastrous effect on the economic situation of some of the Cypriot regions and was one of the reasons for the total cessation of Cypriot imports to the Levantine mainland.

Late neolithic cultural landscape in the Al-Jafr Basin, southern Jordan: a brief review in context

Late neolithic cultural landscape in the Al-Jafr Basin, southern Jordan: a brief review in context The Late Neolithic cultural landscape in southern Jordan waspoorly understood due to the deficiency of basic information. However, recent investigations are improving this situation. A good example is providedby the discovery of a Jericho IX pottery assemblage at Munqata’a near Tafileh, which offers a glimpse into the influence of an exotic culture onthe post-PPNB cultural landscape in southern Jordan. However, things are different in the al-Jafr Basin to the east, where a new adaptation strategy to cope with increasing aridification was sought within the context of the traditional PPNB outpost culture. The difference in cultural landscapes between the east and the west in this period ushers in the era of ‘the desertand the sown.’ In preparation for future comparative study, this paper briefly reviews past research outcomes in the basin and discusses the Late Neolithic cultural landscape at the arid margin of southern Jordan.

Tomb architecture and distribution in the Eastern Necropolis of Nea Paphos, Cyprus

Tomb architecture and distribution in the Eastern Necropolis of Nea Paphos, Cyprus The Eastern necropolis of Nea Paphos is one of the most significant funerary landscapes of Cyprus, primarily because of its connection with the capital of the island during the Hellenistic and Roman times, and therefore of importance for the archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean. The first systematic exploration of the site took place in the 1980s in the form of rescue excavations. Only limited research has been undertaken since then. This article discusses the necropolis based on unpublished material from the rescue excavations. It presents the tombs’ architecture; partially reconstructs the burial ground; reveals the extension of the necropolis; triggers questions related to the dynamics between nearby necropolis, and its potential correlation to satellite habitation sites.

Al-Jaya Palace and the New Shawbak Town. A Medieval frontier and the return of the urbanism in the Southern Transjordan

Al-Jaya Palace and the New Shawbak Town. A Medieval frontier and the return of the urbanism in the Southern Transjordan The recent discovery – made during the 2018 campaign ofthe ‘Medieval Petra’ Mission of the University of Florence – of the residential al-Jaya Palace at the bottom of the hill of Shawbak’s ‘incastellato’ site is of particular relevance both for medieval and Islamic heritage in Jordan (no architecture of a comparable quality from the Ayyubid-Mamluk periodhas ever been found in the country) and mostly for the archaeological confirmation that underneath al-Jaya, lays the ancient medieval capital city of southern Jordan, founded by Saladin, on the same site of the castle-capital of the previous Crusader Lordship of Transjordan. This result represents a triple confirmation for the scientific program of the Mission: the productivity of the ‘Light Archaeology’ methodology that characterizes our approach; the real existence of the city whose foundation we had deemed to be able to propose (owing solely to the ‘light’ reading son the walls of the ‘castle’); and the excellence of the formal level of the building – perfectly matching the quality of the political and productive structures documented earlier in the castle – that speaks of a cultured and refined city and of an extraordinary strategic project that can be attributed to Saladin’s political intelligence. A project that gave back a new centrality to the entire southern Transjordan and started a settlement and political tradition that is the basis of modern Jordan itself (it is not accidental that the first capital of the state was Ma’an). Once the urban structure that has now appeared is understood, future research will be able to direct the excavations so as to address another great historical question which 2018 investigations have highlighted: we know the birth and begin to read the life of this extraordinary town, butwhen, how and why did it perish so much so that it was forgotten by history (and to be rediscovered by archaeology)? Perhaps for the first time, we will have an opportunity to study archaeologically an aspect of the historical crisis that, probably during the 15th century, engulfed the Arab-Islamicworld, opening the way for the Ottoman conquest. It is an intriguing perspective to be addressed in tandem with a renewed public archaeology program: conservative restoration, social valorization, broad communication directed both to the local communities and to the international public with the implementation of the master plan 2010-14, and, finally, tourist routes connecting Shawbak with the Petra area.

New research in the sacred zone of the Fabrika Hill in Nea Paphos, Cyprus

New research in the sacred zone of the Fabrika Hill in Nea Paphos, Cyprus The rocky hillock of Fabrika in the north-eastern most part of ancient Nea Paphos, founded during the late 4th century BC, is of key importance for understanding the early phase of the town planning, but at the same time very difficult to be methodically explored. Both its eminent location and geology made it a natural source of building material throughout the ages, greatly hindering any accurate reconstruction of the site development. However, the data collected so far strongly suggest that the arrangement of the southern part of the hill was of a cultic nature. Therefore, on undertaking a joint project with Université d’Avignon, we decided to focus the research on the southern part of the hill where, near the top of an Early Hellenistic theatre, there are rock-cut outlines of atemple possibly devoted to Aphrodite Paphia. During two seasons of field work (2018-2019), we retrieved some important information regarding both an original Hellenistic arrangement of the sacred area and its later (Late Roman/Byzantine and Medieval) use. Some new observations were also made regarding the topographical details of the area.

A note on sasanian-buddhist object of Gyeongju National Museum

A note on sasanian-buddhist object of Gyeongju National Museum Although Korean and late Sasanian texts are silent about mutual relations, archaeological evidences provide a different perspective. This paper deals with an object known at Gyeongju National Museum of the Republic of Korea. The loop was discovered in Bunhwangsa Buddhist Temple in Geun-jik (Gyeongju) region in 2001. Gyeongju’s loop includes a round form made of clay, with a pearly chain (running) in the border and two birds (ducks most probably) appearing in the center of the motif while they are trying to hold a stalk of a herb. Many scholarly works have been published about it and interpreted it as the ‘tree of life.’The author believes that this herb (as distinct from a plant) is a sacred lotus. In fact, the birds try to hold it in their beaks. So, an expert creator of the object used known Sasanian artistic elements on the one hand and combined them with a famous Buddhist element on the other hand. It ispossible the creator attempted to immortalize his work with this sacred lotus: in a Buddhist temple, only such an element was allowed to be introduced.

Archaeological research as a benefit for the local community

Archaeological research as a benefit for the local community. Southern Jordan in the preliminary socioarchaeological study Starting an archaeological research is not only the beginning of gathering new scientific data for academic analysis. The role of a scientist is not only to build the ‘tower of knowledge,’ but also to make it beneficial to people. Therefore, archaeological projects should also vastly contribute to the promotion of the heritage of the region and its modern value and to the development of tourism, education and local community activities. Understanding the local community and its view on the historical heritage, as well as on archaeological research seems to be a very important aspect of this type of activity. It will not only allow to identify potential risks and create a plan of regular research, excavations, as well as future maintenance. As a benefit of the sociological study, the future revitalization of the area will occur. This outcome may be an important extension of theoretical and practical principles of global heritage protection and may become a standard solution based on the belief that cultural heritage can be a factor of local community development and prosperity.

Surveying the rural village of Al-Jāyyah (Ma’an Governorate, Jordan): archaeological methodologies and first results

Surveying the rural village of Al-Jāyyah (Ma’an Governorate, Jordan): archaeological methodologies and first results. A contribution to the knowledge of the Shawbak territorial settlement in the longue durée This paper presents some preliminary results about systematic Light Archaeology surveys (integrating Building and Landscape Archaeology) that the author is leading in the village of Al-Jāyyah, SE ofthe Shawbak castle, within the archaeological investigations on the landscape surrounding the fortress managed by the Italian archaeological Mission‘Medieval Petra,’ University of Florence. The aim of the surveys is to investigate the historical connection between the castle and the village, suggested by some Medieval written sources. The research’s preliminary outcomes are confirming that even if the present appearance of the village is modern, it preserves significant Medieval material evidences plausibly linked to the Crusader suburb and the Islamic madīnah of Shawbak.