The
site of the FJHP excavations is at ca 1250 m asl., while located ca. 70
m below
and ca. 150 m to the west of the peak of the mountain. The ruined
architectural
complex, measuring ca 72 m N-S x 48 m E-W, is an irregular quadrangle
the
extent of which is marked by the back walls of the structures. The
central
location is occupied by the church and a chapel which face an irregular
court
with a rock-cut cistern on the western side, and series of rooms
surrounding a
courtyard on the northern side, the latter most probably serving as a
pilgrims’
hostel. The southern side of the complex consists of as yet unexcavated
rooms
and spaces which seem to have flanked the main entrance to the
monastery. The
western side of the monastery is occupied by a monumental, multi-roomed
structure, probably dated to the Nabataean-Roman periods (1st-3rd
centuries
A.D.), which was apparently incorporated into the monastic complex
during the
Byzantine period.
The
FJHP excavations are based upon the continuous and interdependent
cooperation
between the archaeologists, cartographers and conservators. Prior to
the
excavation, the entire area of the site was subjected to an intensive
archaeological survey including the collection and recording of the
surface material.
Survey bench marks were established so the location of every excavation
trench
as well as of all uncovered features and recovered artifacts could be
precisely
recorded with the use of the tachymeters. So far, 25 large excavation
trenches,
designated by letters from A to Z, have been fully excavated.
The
excavations proceed according to the stratigraphic principles, i.e.,
through
the carefully recorded removal of distinguishable layers, naturally or
humanly
deposited. Each discrete soil and tumble layer and each feature (wall,
installation) is assigned a locus number in order of appearance, while
the
walls receive a separate letter designation. Each locus is described,
photographed, electronically and manually measured, and sampled (if
soil). In
addition to the tachymetry, the excavators use specially developed
locus forms
and notebooks. Many soil deposits, especially if close to floor levels,
are
100% sieved. The original location of all stone architectural elements
is
recorded, then the stones are deposited in designated lapidaria. All
finds are
collected and labelled, using specific field forms. A computerized
database to
which all of the information mentioned above is daily transferred
during the
fieldwork, was specifically developed for the Project’s use.
Additionally,
photogrammetric methods are used to record the daily progress of work,
and for
the 3-D model of the monastic site, currently being developed.
While
the first buildings at the site date to the Nabataean-Roman period, the
major
expansion is dated to the later 5th century A.D. when the church and
the chapel
were constructed, together with some
adjacent structures, rooms and installations. The church was a large,
tripartite,
monoapsidal basilica, with a long,
adjacent chapel which had a single apse and a cruciform, baptismal font
(later
replaced by another one). Originally, the church and the chapel were
lavishly
decorated with marble floors and furnishing. Both structures feature
several
phases of remodelling and restoration, including major rearrangements
of the
roof support and the considerable reduction in size. Some of these
might relate
to at least two (seismic?) destructions which seemingly affected the
site. Other
structures at the site would have served as dwellings and storerooms,
associated with daily-life installations. Apparently, the monastery, in
addition to the revenues from the pilgrim traffic, was supported
through its
own food production and processing, not unlike a typical Byzantine coenobium. Substantial quantities of
pottery and glass were found which allow for the refinement of the
chronological framework for these objects in Jordan. The finds also
include a
mosaic floor in the narthex of the church, dated to the 6th century,
elements
of marble furnishing, numerous metal objects, coins and Early Christian
inscriptions.. In the post-6th century periods, the site experienced a
gradual
contraction in size, associated with the appearance of secondary
structures and
partitions. Reuse of architectural elements and extensive collection of
still
usable elements (glass sherds, mosaic cubes) are also attested for
these
periods. Even as parts of the church and the monastery were gradually
abandoned, the pilgrimage traffic seeems to have continued, exemplified
by the
remains of meals (mainly parrotfish) left at the site. Although the
Early
Islamic finds are scarce, the existence of the complex, albeit in
reduced form,
is attested, at least in the 8th century. A massive “glacis” wall
located on
the western side of the complex may even date to the
Crusader-Ayyubid-Mamluk
period (12th-14th centuries A.D.), which would confirm the written
sources from
the Crusader period, specifying a limited Christian presence at the
mountain.