A Late Second Century BC Nabataean Occupation at Jabal Numayr

8/11/2019 A Late Second Century BC Nabataean Occupation at Jabal Numayr

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BRIAN BECKERS & BRIGITTA SCHTT. The chronology of ancient agricultural terraces in theenvirons of Petra .......................... ............................... .............................. .........................313

PAULA K OUKI. The intensi cation of Nabataean agriculture in the Petra region......................... 323R OBERT WENNING. North Arabian deities and the deities of Petra: an approach to the origins of the

Nabataeans?......................................................................................................................335R OBERT WENNING. Nabataean niches and Early Petra ............................................................ 343VEIT VAELSKE. Isis in Petra. Chronological and topographical aspects .............................. .........351


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The so-called Obodas Chapel in Petra, is a Nabataean religious complex located to the east ofJabal Numayr and about 1 km south of the theatre( g. 1). This meeting place was accessed via stepsthat begin at the head of Wadi Numayr. The maincomplex consisted of several rock-cut and builtstructures, disposed around a large, main rock-cut triclinium , known as the Obodas Chapel because of a long Nabataean inscription dedicatedto the god Obodas (CIS II 354), dated to 20 AD.

The site has been excavated since 2001 by theFrench Archaeological Mission to Petra, directed by Chr. Aug (CNRS, Amman). The project, set up by L. Nehm (CNRS, Paris), has continued underthe direction of L. Tholbecq since 2002 (Nehm2002; Tholbecq & Durand 2005; Tholbecqetal. 2008; Tholbecq 2011). This article presents a preliminary analysis of the earliest remains andof the associated pottery. We will also take thisopportunity to present the general phasing of theremains.

PHASINGThree main phases have been identi ed.1 Theearliest (Phase 1) was found under an open-airtriclinium (cf. infra ) and around a small rock-cutchamber open to the west, which looks out towardsthe central terrace of the site (no 7, g. 2). Herestand, in particular, the remains of a structure that

1. This description will clarify the general dating suggested in

2011: Tholbecq 2011, p. 37-43. It re nes the analysis of the phase 1 remains: however, wall PN2007.23024 is excludedsince it belongs to the foundation of the rst phase of the builttriclinium (phase 2, cf.infra ).

was removed (US23041), exposed over an area of1.80 m (N/S) by 1 m (E/W) ( g. 3). Only thefoundations of its northeastern corner are visible(US23043), its southern and western limits beingobliterated by the western bench of the lateropen-air triclinium (US23011).2 The excavationuncovered deposits of powdery grey ash acrossthe whole width of the area between structureUS23041 and the small rock-cut chambermentioned above. These deposits, up to forty

centimetres thick, also pre-date the constructionof the open-airtriclinium . Their base slopedslightly to the east and the upper layer was exactlylevel with the top of the existing remains of thestructure that has disappeared. The conclusionis that they represented the successive wasteassociated with the use of this structure, andthat the structure and its adjacent deposits werelevelled when the open-airtriclinium was built. Insome places these deposits have been cut through by levels associated with the use of the benches of

the open-airtriclinium (e.g. US23018 and 23021west side). The majority of the material discussed

2. The surface of structure PN.2007.23041 (alt. 970.608 m)contained chips of white sandstone, interpreted as evidenceof the removal of a surface and/or of the re-cutting of the blocks re-used in the foundations of the open-airtriclinium ;the corner foundation PN.2007.23043 consists of a singlecourse of roughly dressed stones 17 cm high resting onmortar. No stones marked its northern edge but its locationwas clear during the excavations because of the presence ofwhite chips instead of sterile sand. Area 23000 was excavated

in 2007 by B. Vergnaud (Univ. of Bordeaux III) and in 2008 by D. Aguilar San Feliz (ULB, Brussels); area 22000 wasexcavated in 2007 by M.-J. Lanthier (U. Laval, Quebec) andin 2008 by S. Ville (ULB, Brussels).

A late second century BC Nabataeanoccupation at Jabal Numayr: the earliestphase of the Obodas Chapel sanctuary

Laurent olbecq & Caroline Durand


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Laurent Tholbecq & Caroline Durand

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in this article comes from these contexts. As itstands, the elevation of the missing structure can not be reconstructed. At this stage in the analysisit seems plausible to interpret this structure as a bench or, because of the 2.80 m available up to therock wall to the west, as a wide platform. In thiscase, the hypothesis of a cultic platform of archaictype such as is found, for example, in the initial phases of the sanctuary at Khirbet edh-Dharih and,

further a eld, in various Near Eastern contexts ofthe Hellenistic period comes to mind; we mighthave here an example of an ancient, free-standingmtab which is not integrated into a monumentalsetting (at Kh. edh-Dharih: Villeneuve & Muheisen2000: 15311535; the series can be extended toYanouh, Tel Dan, etc.; Charpentier 2009: 109 111). The presence of small cultic elements in thefoundation walls marking the north side of theterrace of the complex in Phases 2 and 3 reinforcethe hypothesis.3

3. Additionally, there was a door here giving access to thecomplex: Tholbecq & Delcros, forthcoming.

These original remains were obscured by an open-air triclinium (Phase 2). Initially, thetriclinium was 6.30 m wide and had two benches oppositeone another, each 10.50 m long and 1.80 m wide(no 3, g. 2). The foundations of the benches weremediocre, except towards the north where it wasnecessary to compensate for the slope on whichthe triclinium is built ( g. 4). This explains the presence, at the north end of the eastern bench,of aligned blocks laid edgeways extending theinternal face: they form the foundation wall of theeastern bench in this sloping northern part ( g. 5).At a time yet to be determined, but probably atthe same time as the collapse of the rst terracewall mentioned above, the northern ends of thetriclinium benches were destroyed, which isdemonstrated by the subsidence of the foundationsof the western bench ( g. 4). Subsequent to thisevent, a new terrace wall was rebuilt on therubble of the previous wall (Tholbecq & Delcros,forthcoming) and the lateral benches of thetriclinium were shortened: repairs were carriedout on the western bench in the shape of a smallwall of mediocre build surrounding a basin, the

Fig. 1. View of the Obodas Chapel area (photo French archaeological Expedition at Petra / CNRS).


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A late second century BC Nabataean occupation at Jabal Numayr

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r e s t it u t io n W a ll

n orthe rn acces s

1. Southern Access 2. Stibadium ? Niches Brnnow 289 3. Obodas Triclinium Brnnow 290 4. Northern annex room 5. Southern annex room 6. Northern building 7. Impeding rock-cut chamber 8. Built triclinium 9. Rock-cut triclinium Brnnow 28910. Rock-cut chamber Dalman 29611. Cistern Dalman 29712. Biclinium Nehm 19 Mission Archologique Franaise de Ptra - CNRS

0 5 m

N

Fig. 2. Plan of the Obodas Chapel area (S. Delcros).

north part of the bench probably going out of use.The eastern bench was shortened in the sameway: the blocks that remained in situ from the rststage were re-cut ( g. 5), and a wall that limitedthe length of the bench to 7.70 m was built ( g. 6).

It was only partly and poorly founded, and in itselevation there are re-used three facing stones ofdifferent sizes that came from the tumble of the previous stage. Since these remains were visibleon the surface prior to the excavation, the contexts


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970 m

971 m

972 m

PN2008.22079

PN2008.22074

PN2008.22070

PN2008.22072

2 2 0 7 12 2 0 7 3

220752 20 7 6

2 2 0 81

Fondation23024

0 1 m 2 m

Mission ArchologiqueFranaisedePtra -CNRS S.Delcros

Fig. 6. Elevation of the northern end of the eastern bench,in its shortened state (S. Delcros / L. Tholbecq).

Fig. 3. Remains of the Phase 1 platform, looking southwest(photo L. Tholbecq).

in the slope must have been partly washed awayor disturbed by the fall of the strong walls that bordered the terrace on the north side.4Thus, two stages of thetriclinium can be identi ed:an open-airtriclinium and a terrace wall were built,at a date that has yet to be clari ed but that fornow we place towards the middle of the 1st centuryBC, which constitute Phase 2. The site thenunderwent the violent destruction of the terracewall and the front parts of thetriclinium , followingwhich a new terrace wall was built on the tumble ofthe previous one and thetriclinium benches wereshortened. The available stratigraphic data suggestthat these transformations occurred around theturn of the 1st century BC/AD, which would makethem contemporary with the construction of theObodas complex that constitutes our Phase 3. Atthat time, the small rock-cut chamber mentionedabove, whose oor level was shown to correspondwith the walking level of the open-airtriclinium ,went out of use, all the rock-face being re-carvedin order to produce a forecourt giving access tothe newtriclinium of Obodas the god (Tholbecq2011: 4243). A pit that disturbed all the area is

4. Before the excavation, the area had a south-north slope of15 (17%), and a general dip to the northwest. The lowest point of the site was on the west side of the central areaand was formed by the out ow of winter torrents comingfrom the heights of the massif and falling down into Wadi Numayr. The northern end of the benches, in their reducedstate, reached the surface. The remains and sediments thatwould have been further north had been washed away. Itwas precisely to counter these effects of erosion that twosuccessive terrace walls were built, cutting off the area to the

north, immediately to the south of the out ow of the watercatchment; their successive destruction (cf.infra ) openedthe way to slope wash, which carried the exposed sedimentsaway towards Wadi Numayr.

associated with these works (US22070/22074); itcan probably be explained by the need to create acorridor that allowed circulation between the builttriclinium and the new monument ( g. 6).

Thus, Phase 3 was the main occupation period ofthe complex. During this phase, the main rock-cut triclinium (Obodas Chapel) was built. Thisconstruction can be dated to the rst quarterof the 1st century AD thanks to the presence ofthe dedication mentioned above. To the northof this large banqueting room which is halfrock-cut and half built there are three smalladjoining secondary rooms (no 4, 5, 6, g. 2). Ofthese, room 4 has been interpreted as a place for butchering and cooking because of the presence

of two stands against the north and east walls.Study of the pottery from this room showed thatit was used during the whole of the 1st centuryAD and into the rst half of the 2nd century AD(Tholbecq & Durand 2005). It is clear that thecistern D 297 (no 11, g. 2) was used during thesame period, as shown by the large quantity of pottery mainly jugs and vessels for drawingwater found during its excavation (Tholbecqetal. 2008: 242246). At this stage in the analysis,one is tempted to distinguish two periods withinPhase 3. In the rst (Phase 3a), the open-airtriclinium (no 8, g. 2) was still functioning, in parallel with the Obodastriclinium . Then in thesecond stage, apparently in the late 1st century,(Phase 3b), the open-airtriclinium was abandonedand lled in. It is possible that the second rock-cut triclinium (Brnnow 291; no 9, g. 2), which issmaller, was then carved out to replace the older,


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Mission Archologique Franaise de Ptra - CNRS S. Delcros

PN2007.23011

PN2008.230410 1 2 m

Fig. 4. Open-airtriclinium , elevation of the inner, west face (in 2007, architectural drawing S. Del

PN2008.2338 = PN2007.23017

PN2008.23039B

PN2007.23010PN2007.23024

PN2007.23019PN2008.23035/35B

PN2008.23039PN2008.23040

Mission Arch S. Delcros

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Fig. 5. Open-air triclinium , elevation of the inner, east face (in 2008, architectural drawing S. Del


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Fig. 7. Unpainted ne ware, Phase 1 (C. Durand).


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Inventory Description Diameter (cm)

A PN 2008.23034.02 Bowl with everted rim; pale red fabric, small white inclusions; dark brownslip on exterior 14

B PN 2008.19052.03 Bowl with everted rim; pale red fabric, small white and grey inclusions;

no traces of slip14

C PN 2008.23034.01 Bowl with everted rim; light beige to pinkish fabric, small white, red andgrey inclusions; reddish-brown slip on exterior 14

D PN 2007.23021B.07 Bowl with everted rim; pale red fabric, small white, red and grey inclusions;no traces of slip 14

E PN 2007.23017A.05 Bowl with everted rim; pale red fabric, small white inclusions; red slip oninterior 20

F PN 2007.23017.12 Ring base of a bowl with central depression, sh-plate type; ne palered fabric; interior and exterior red slip 7,5

G PN 2008.23035.10 Bowl with incurving rim; ne pale red fabric; red slip on interior 16

H PN 2007.23021B.08 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric, small white and grey inclusions;no traces of slip 18

I PN 2007.23017A.07 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric, small white and grey inclusions;traces of red slip on the outer rim 18

J PN 2008.23035.11 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric, small white inclusions; no tracesof slip 18

K PN 2007.23021B.10 Deep bowl with bevelled rim with ne internal groove; ne pale red fabric;red slip on interior 14

L PN 2008.23035.03 Deep bowl with upright rim; ne pale red fabric; grey band with traces ofwhitish slip on the outer rim 12

M PN 2007.23017A.06 Ring base of a miniature vessel (closed); ne pale red fabric; traces ofreddish-brown slip on exterior 1,5

N PN 2007.23021B.05 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red to pale brown fabric, small whiteinclusions; no traces of slip 14

O PN 2008.23034.04 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric, small white, red and greyinclusions; traces of red slip on exterior 14

P PN 2008.23042.03 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric, small white and grey inclusions;greyish exterior surface 14

Q PN 2007.23017.24 Bowl with incurving rim and ring base; ne pale red fabric; interior andexterior red slip, whitish band on the outer rim 14

R PN 2008.23044.01 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric, small white, red and greyinclusions; traces of reddish-brown slip on the outer rim 12

S PN 2008.22079.01 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric 12

T PN 2008.22076.05 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric 12

U PN 2008.22076.06 Bowl with incurving rim; pale red fabric 14

Unpainted ne ware, Phase 1.

open-airtriclinium . Phase 3 ends with the violentdestruction of the complex towards the middle ofthe 2nd century AD (Tholbecq & Durand 2005:310). Subsequently only the cistern (no 11, g. 2)

seems to have remained in occasional use, as wellas the small rock-cut chamber adjoining it (no 10,g. 2), near to which a few sherds of Late Romanand medieval pottery were found.


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POTTERY FROM PHASE IThe pottery presented below provides a glimpseof the rich material found in the levels of the rst phase of occupation in the area of the ObodasChapel (Phase 1). This material comes mainlyfrom levels situated below the foundations of theopen-airtriclinium ,5 and from deep levels situatedunder the destruction of the terrace wall to thenorth.6 With the exception of a few rare imports,the majority of this pottery is of local production,representative of early Nabataean ne and com-mon wares already identi ed in Petra. So far, these

5. US (stratigraphic units) US23017, US23017A, US23021,

US23021B, US23034, US23035 and US23039B were between the two benches; US22076, US22079/23040 werelevels from under the east bench of thetriclinium .6. Essentially US19052.

early Nabataean productions have been found inthe monumental centre of the town: initially in thedeep soundings carried out by Parr in thetemenos of the Qasr el-Bint; then in the lower levels of the

excavations in the domestic quarter of Ez-Zantur;and nally, more recently, in the soundings carriedout in the Qasr el-Bint area (Parr 1970 & 2007;Schmid 1996 & 2000; Moutonet al . 2008; Renelet al . 2012). To these must be added the excavationof a house at the foot of Jabal al-Khubta, whichwas dated to the 1st century BC by the pottery(Zeitler 1990).

These early Nabataean productions are character-ised by their pale fabric, from pale brown to lightred, and by the thickness of the walls, relativelythick by comparison to the later productionsof Nabataean ne ware (eggshell type). Themajority of fragments recovered belong to open

Fig. 8. Painted ne ware, Phase 1 (C. Durand).


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A PN 2008.23034.05Small deep bowl; ne pale red fabric; painted decoration on interior: a thinred band around the rim and a thin, straight red line running from the rimto the bottom

10

B PN 2007.23021B.13Deep bowl; ne pale red fabric; painted decoration on interior: series ofred drips around the rim 12

C PN 2008.23034.06Deep bowl; ne pale red fabric; painted decoration on interior: ne red band around the rim and a series of red drips; greyish surface of the outerrim

14

D PN 2008.23035.09 Bowl with slightly incurving rim; ne pale red fabric; painted decorationon interior: two parallel, thick, straight red lines 14

E PN 2007.23017.16Deep bowl with ne, almost upright walls; ne pale red fabric; painteddecoration on interior: ne red band around the rim and a series of smallred dots; red slip on exterior

12

F PN 2007.23029.03Ring base of a bowl; ne pale red fabric; painted decoration on interior:two pairs of parallel, straight red lines, which intersect in the bottom ofthe bowl

5

G PN 2008.23035.08 Carinated bowl with small upright rim; ne pale red fabric; painteddecoration on interior: ne red band around the rim and red drips 12

H PN 2008.23033.03Wide bowl with incurving rim; ne pale red fabric; painted decoration oninterior: ne red band around the rim and small drips, row of dots framed by two straight red lines running from the rim to the bottom of the bowl

16

I PN 2008.19052.06

Wide bowl with incurving rim; ne pale red fabric; painted decorationon interior: ne red band around the rim and a series of small, regularlyspaced drops, line of dots framed by two straight red lines running from therim to the bottom of the bowl

18

J PN 2008.19052.07

Wide bowl with incurving rim; ne pale red fabric; painted decorationon interior: ne red band around the rim and a series of small, oblique,

regularly spaced thin red wavy lines running from the rim to the bottomof the bowl

20

K PN 2008.23039B.04Thick-walled bowl (6 mm) with straight, slightly incurving rim; pale redfabric, small white inclusions; red slip on exterior and thick, irregular redline around the inner rim

16

L PN 2008.23039B.05

Thick-walled bowl (8 mm) with everted rim; pale brown fabric, smallwhite inclusions; painted decoration on interior: thick, irregular red linearound the rim and one or two red lines running from the rim towards the bottom

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Painted ne ware, Phase 1.

Fig. 9. Various decorative motifs on the Nabataean paintedne ware, Phase 1 (photo C. Durand).

forms (bowls and cups), in painted and unpaintedne wares ( g. 7, 8, 9 & 11). The unpainted newares mostly t into the typological categoriescorresponding to Phase 1 de ned by S. Schmid inhis study on the pottery from Ez-Zantur (Schmid1996 & 2000, in particular Schmid 2000: g. 97).First and foremost, there are numerous bowls withincurving rims, rather low and wide (diameterca. 16/18 cm; g. 7, GJ) (Schmid 2000, group 1:g. 117; Parr 1970: 355, g. 2, no 14; Renelet al. 2012: 46, g. 7, no 2; Zeitler 1990: g. 10, no 5 & 7)or deeper with a smaller diameter (ca. 12/14 cm;g. 7: NU) (Schmid 2000, groups 2 & 5: g. 18 21 & 4043; Moutonet al. 2008: 66, g. 20, no13;Renelet al. 2012: 46, g. 7, no 1; Zeitler 199: g. 10,


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Fig. 10. Common ware (cooking pots and dishes), Phase 1 (C. Durand).


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0 5 cm

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Fig. 11: Common ware (kraters, jugs and cups) and imported amphorae, Phase 1 (C. Durand).

2012: 46, g. 7, no 3); a carinated bowl with evertedrim ( g. 11: F) (Schmid 2000: g. 148); a smallhemispherical bowl with ared sides ( g. 11: E)(Schmid 2000: g. 114) and a large bowl with twohandles ( g. 11: H) (similar to Moutonet al. 2008:g. 20, no 13/ Renelet al. 2012: 46, g. 7, no 12; seealso Zeitler 1990: g. 11, no 8). Also noteworthy isthe presence of a small ring base from a miniaturevessel ( g. 7: M). It is now well established thatthe formal repertoire adopted by the Nabataean

craftsmen was strongly inspired by Hellenistictraditions that spread throughout the Near East.The painted ne ware ( g. 89), characteristicof Nabataean productions in Petra, is presentin smaller quantities. The repertoire of forms issimilar to that of the unpainted pottery. The mostcommon vessels are small, deep, hemispherical bowls (diameterca. 12/14 cm) with a ring base( g. 8: F) (Schmid 2000: g. 7375; Moutonet al. 2008: g. 20, no 4, 6, 7; Renelet al. 2012: 46, g. 7,


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A PN 2008.22076.02 Wide krater with horizontal rim; grey fabric 28 (ext.)

B PN 2007.23017.41 Wide krater with out-turned rim; grey fabric, black and white (calcite)inclusions; burned? 25

C PN 2007.23.021.28 Krater with out-turned rim and moulded edge; ne pale red to pinkishfabric; reddish-brown slip on exterior and on upper part of lip 22

D PN 2007.23017.48 Krater with out-turned rim and moulded lip; ne pale red fabric; reddishslip on interior and exterior 15

E PN 2008.19052.04 Bowl with out-turned rim; ne pale red fabric; traces of whitish slip onexterior 16

F PN 2008.22076.04 Bowl with sharp carination and everted rim; pale red fabric 18

G PN 2007.23023.19Wide carinated bowl with small, upright rim and small horizontalhandles ( skyphos type); pale red fabric, small white inclusions; red slipon exterior

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H PN 2008.23033.10 Wide bowl with small, out-turned rim; two small, wide handles; pale redfabric; white slip on exterior

22

I PN 2007.23017A.03 Jar/pitcher with everted rim; pale red fabric, small white and greyinclusions; traces of reddish-brown slip on exterior 10

J PN 2008.23035.12 Jar/pitcher with rounded, out-turned rim; pale red fabric, small white andgrey inclusions; white slip on exterior 8

K PN 2007.23021B.09 Small jar/juglet with rounded out-turned rim; pale red fabric, small whiteand grey inclusions; traces of whitish slip on exterior 6

L PN 2008.23035.07Jar/pitcher with slightly everted rim and thickened lip; pale red fabric,numerous small white and grey inclusions; traces of whitish slip onexterior

8 ?

M PN 2007.23017.40 Jar/pitcher with carinated neck and small incurving rim; pale red to brownish fabric; greyish slip on interior and exterior 11

N PN 2008.19052.05 Small jar/juglet with carinated neck and small upright rim; ne pale redfabric; traces of white slip on exterior 6

O PN 2007.23021B.01 Amphora with beaded rim; ne light brown fabric, whitish exteriorsurface; Rhodian import 10

P PN 2008.23034.07 Amphora with beaded rim; ne light brown fabric, whitish exteriorsurface; Rhodian import 10

Common ware (kraters, jugs and cups) and imported amphorae, Phase 1.

no 56; see also Parr 1970: g. 2 no 16, g. 3 no 26 28; Zeitler 1990, g. 10, no 34). On the inside theyhave a variety of decorations in red paint ( g. 9),the most frequent motif consisting of two parallellines (straight or wavy), going from the rim to the base and crossing each other in the bottom of the bowl. A horizontal red line usually runs around therim of the bowl, punctuated at regular intervals bydrops or drips ( g. 8: AD). A few examples withsimilar decoration have a carination and a smallupright rim ( g. 8: G) (Schmid 2000: g. 77, 89,91). At Ez-Zantur, this decorative motif has beenidenti ed as characteristic of the rst phase of painted ne ware production, dated to between themiddle of the 2nd and the middle of the 1st centuryBC (Schmid 2000: g. 98; Stuckyet al. 1994: 281

and g. 11). Fragment PN 2007.23017.16 ( g. 8: E)has a rarer decoration composed of severalseries of small red dots, identi ed at Ez-Zanturas belonging to the same phase of production(Schmid 1996: pl. 3, no 1).A few fragments of shallower, wider bowls (ca .16/18 cm) show a slightly different decoration:the two parallel straight lines are ner and areassociated with a series of small dots betweenthe lines ( g. 8: HI). Occasionally there is amotif consisting of a single wavy line, also veryne ( g. 8, J). Based on their pro le, fabric anddimensions but not their decoration these bowls belong to productions from phase 2awhich, at Ez-Zantur, Schmid considers beginningaround 50 BC (Schmid 2000: g. 98; Stuckyet


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Fig. 12: Stamped amphora handle, Rhodian import(photo L. Tholbecq).

al. 1994: 281 and g. 11).7

They could representa transitional phase of production, lying betweenthe end of phase 1 and the beginning of phase 2identi ed at Ez-Zantur, in other words around therst half of the 1st century BC.8 Also, two paintedsherds ( g. 8: KL) came from US23039B, whichrepresents the oldest occupation level in area23000 ( g. 5). They have a particularly thick walland a fairly coarse decoration inside, consistingof a wide and irregular red line along the rim, and perhaps one or two other lines going from the rim

to the bottom (for fragment PN 2008.23039B.05).These fragments, for which no parallels have beenfound, seem to be older than the earliest phase of production of painted ne ware identi ed so far inPetra, dating at the latest to the rst half of the 2nd century BC.In addition to the ne painted and unpaintedwares, the common wares and cooking pots arerelatively numerous in this assemblage ( g. 10 11). As with the ne wares, there are types thathave already been identi ed in Petra, by Gerber,

in levels dated to the 1st century BC at Ez-Zantur(Gerber 1994, 1997) and under the main church

(the Petra Church) (Gerber 2001). The cooking pots are characterised by their thick walls, withlarge inclusions of quartz and calcite, and by theirsmooth or very slightly ribbed outer surface. The

7. Productions from this phase are particularly characterised by their stylised decoration of palm leaves spreading from the bottom of the bowl up to the rim.8. US23033 is on the slope and was disturbed by looting that

occurred between the 2007 and 2008 seasons. It is, therefore,not stratigraphically reliable. However, US19052 is located below the fall of the rst terrace wall and represents the lastoccupation level of phase 1.

most common pro le has a very slightly incurvingrim, with a attening or a slight groove on the upper part for supporting a lid ( g. 10: FN) (Stuckyetal. 1994: 288, g. 15, CF & PU; Gerber 1997:408, g. 12; Gerber 2001: 360, g. 1, 1011; see

also Parr 1970: 359, g. 3, no

38; Zeitler 1990: g.11, no 13 & g. 13, no 110). These closed vessels(diameters between 10 and 22 cm,ca . 12/14 cmon average) were used for cooking, in particularfor boiling food. A few examples have a coarser pro le, with a straight rim ( g. 10: B) (Stuckyetal. 1994: 288, g. 15 A; Gerber 2001: 360, g. 1, 1)or a very slightly ared rim ( g. 10: CD) (Gerber2001: 360, g. 1, 4), which is sometimes foldedoutwards almost horizontally ( g. 10: A). It is possible that these are slightly older prototypes.

One pot has a nger-impressed decoration on theoutside of the rim and it might have been usedas a storage vessel rather than as one designedfor cooking ( g. 10: E).9 Equally, several typesof closed vessels, with smaller diameters (6 to11 cm), might have been used for liquids or forfood storage: one can distinguish the jars or jugs with out-turned rounded rims ( g. 11: IK)(Schmid 2000, g. 289, 293295. Figure 11, I issimilar to Parr 1970: 355, g. 2, no 4; this fragmentcould be a little older than the others) and the pitchers / small, carinated pitchers with straight orincurving rims ( g. 11: MN) (Schmid 2000: g.301302; Zeitler 1990: g. 10, no 12). Finally, onlyone large plate (diameter 35 cm), with thick walls,was found ( g. 10: O). It might have been used asa serving dish.

The common ware repertoire for this period alsoincludes a certain number of small kraters ortable amphorae, characterised by their out-turnedmoulded rim, and usually with one or more

grooves on the upper exterior face ( g. 11: AD)(Zeitler 1990: g. 11, no 6; Schmid 1996: pl. 1, no 2;Schmid 2000: g. 306309). These vessels, whoseform is once again borrowed from the Hellenisticrepertoire, were probably used in Petra, as inthe Eastern Mediterranean, for mixing wine andwater during banquets.10 The consumption of

9. This type of decoration is found on many local productionsfrom Madain Saleh / Hgra between the 2nd/1st century BC andthe 1st/2nd century AD: Durand 2011: 339, g. 4 (10257_P03),

see also p. 347, g. 12 (91003_P01) and p. 349, g. 13bis(91021_P01).10. The adoption of individual kraters to replace the large. The adoption of individual kraters to replace the largecommunal krater is an innovation of the Hellenistic period;


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Inventory Description

A PN 2007.23017.37 Pierced lamp handle; ne light grey fabric, black surface; two grooves on top; probablyimported (Aegean region)

B PN 2007.23017.46 Small, moulded lamp handle; pale red fabric, traces of red slip; two grooves on topC PN 2008.23038.05 Small, moulded lamp handle; pale red fabric; two grooves on top

D PN 2008.23038.20 Small fragment of moulded lamp; dark grey fabric; radial decoration and small thumb-piece

Fig. 13: Lamps, Phase 1 (C. Durand).

wine during Nabataean banquets is con rmed bythe discovery of fragments of imported Rhodianamphorae ( g. 11: OP), exactly like those foundin the deep levels excavated under the Qasr

el-Bint (Moutonet al. 2008: g. 21, p. 67; Renel et al. 2012: g. 7, no 8, 9, 10, p. 46; Renel &Mouton,in this volume ) and associated with themonolithic funerary monuments of Petra (Mouton& Renel,in this volume ). These wine amphorae,widely distributed during the Hellenistic period(Empereur & Hesnard 1987), are characterised by their beaded rim, their ne, light red to light brown fabric, and the pinkish-beige to whitishsurface. The handles stamped with the name ofthe manufacturer and of the current archon (or

ruler) can be dated very accurately: this is thecase for the stamped handle found in US23017( g. 12), dated to 132121 BC.11 Apart from theseamphorae, the imports are limited to a singlesmall fragment of Eastern Sigillata A, the pro leof which remains indeterminate and the date

Schmid 2006: 75 and n. 452.11. Alexandrian centre for the study of amphorae (. Alexandrian centre for the study of amphorae (www.amphoralex.or g): archon Nikasagoras II, period Vb. Thisamphora provides aterminus post quem for US23017, with

the understanding that the length of time taken for it to reachPetra is ignored (without mentioning the question of the primary or subsequent secondary uses of these Aegean wineamphorae in the Near East).

of which falls somewhere between the mid-2nd century and the late 1st century BC.12 Finally, this assemblage also produced a few lamps( g. 13), one of which might be an import of theHellenistic period from the Aegean region ( g. 13:A).13 The three other recorded fragments ( g. 13:BD) are early local productions (1st century BCat the latest), moulded and characterised by theirsmall, unpierced handle decorated with grooveson the top side (types Grawehr B.3 and A.4,Grawehr 2006: 279280, 275 no 18).Unguentaria are, unsurprisingly, completely absent from thiscorpus: only a few examples imported from theHellenistic world have been recorded in Petra, incontexts from the 1st century BC (Murray & Ellis1940: pl. 27 no 54; Hors eld & Hors eld 1942:119, pl. 9 no 33, pl. 14 no 70, pl. 43 no 379; Schmid2000: 75, g. 315; Schmid 2004: 421422), thelocal productions only starting at the end of thatcentury (Johnson 1990; Schmid 2004: 421).

12. Eastern Sigillata A, produced in Asia Minor in the. Eastern Sigillata A, produced in Asia Minor in theGulf of Iskenderun region, were widely distributed in the Near East beginning at the end of the Hellenistic period.In Alexandria, they became the main imports beginning inthe late 2nd century BC and throughout the rst half of the1st century BC (laigne 2007: 203).

13. Type Broneer I (so-called Ephesus lamp).. Type Broneer I (so-called Ephesus lamp).These lamps were produced between the second half ofthe 2nd century BC and the rst half of the 1st century AD.Cf. Grawehr 2006: 355-356, no 551.


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CONCLUSION

The study of the pottery from the lower levelsof the Obodas Chapel area demonstrates anearly Nabataean occupation in the southern part

of Petra, in a particularly rugged area, near thetop of the Jabal Numayr. This tribal or familysanctuary was far from the banks of WadiMusa, where the monumental centre of the towndeveloped and where today the oldest traces of the Nabataean occupation of the site go back to thevery beginning of the Hellenistic period (to the 4th century BC in phase I: Moutonet al. 2008: 69;Renelet al. 2012: 51).

The pottery productions found in the oldest levelsof the Obodas Chapel are similar to thoseidenti ed by the excavators of the Qasr al-Bintarea in their phase II, dated to between the 3rd and the mid-1st century BC (Moutonet al. 2008:69). However, the excavators of Ez-Zantur prefera lower dating for these same productions, not pushing them back beyond the mid-2nd centuryBC (Phase 1 at Ez-Zantur = 15050 BC; cf.Schmid 1996 and 2000; Gerber 1994, 1997 and2001; Grawehr 2006). At the Obodas Chapel,the chronological indicators are more in line withthis latter, lower dating. No coins were foundin the lower levels, but the C14 analysis of threesamples of carbonised plant remains fromlocus US23017 ( g. 5) produced supporting results witha date between the late 2nd and mid-1st century BC(ca. 11550 BC)14. This date span is corroborated by the presence of the stamped Rhodian amphoramentioned above, which dates to the last third ofthe 2nd century BC. Thus we can date US23017 to between the years 115 and 50 BC and, depending

14. Analysis were nanced by the ANR Early Petra, and. Analysis were nanced by the ANR Early Petra, andis were nanced by the ANR Early Petra, ands were nanced by the ANR Early Petra, andEarly Petra, andEarly Petra, and, and, andandcarried out forCharlne Bouchaud (Natural History Museum,Paris) by the C14 dating laboratory ofQueens University,Belfast. Sample 23017_1: 2070 +/- 35BP, cal. 184 BC-3 ADat 2 sigma (100%), 116-44 BCat 1 sigma (77.4%); Sample

23017_2: 2082 +/-31 BP, cal. 194-38 BCat 2 sigma (98.8%),117-51 BCat 1 sigma (73%); Sample 23017_3: 2079 +/- 30BP, cal. 186-37 BCat 2 sigma (97.8%), 115-50 BCat 1 sigma(76.4%).

on the time it took for a Rhodian amphora producedaround 131/121 to arrive, we can postulate a date atthe end of the 2nd century BC or, at the latest, at theturn of the century. The lowest levels (US23039;US23039B; US23040) might be older, somewhere

in the second half of the 2nd

century BC.What was the nature of this rst occupation phase in the Obodas Chapel area? The onlystructures associated with this oldest phase are thesmall rock-cut room, which was blocked duringthe second phase ( g. 2, no 7), and the platformdescribed above, interpreted as a bench or cultic platform. The thick ashy layers that accumulatednear this platform seem to represent dumps linkedto hearths since they include the remains of plant

fuel and, in addition to faunal material, mainlytable wares and cooking pots.15It is, therefore, tempting to see in these structures rooms and associated platforms evidence of aninitial meeting place where communal meals wereheld, the precise nature and religious dimensionsof which unfortunately escape us.

Laurent TholbecqUniversit libre de Bruxelles

Av. FD Roosevelt, 50, CP 175B - 1050 Brussels (Belgium)[email protected]

Caroline DurandInstitut Franais du Proche-Orient

PO Box 83041311183 Amman (Jordan)[email protected]

15. The faunal study is currently underway.. The faunal study is currently underway.The faunal study is currently underway..


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References

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A Late Second Century BC Nabataean Occupation at Jabal Numayr

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