Zeidan Kafafi and Ruba Abu Dalu
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Tell Irbid During the Late Bronze/ Iron Ages: New Results
Tell Irbid is located in the center of the modern city Irbid, in north of Jordan
The Tell considered to be one of the largest artificial tells in both Jordan and Palestine. It measures about 500m by 400m and is 578m above the sea level. Unfortunately, during the last decades the site has been altered on sides as the city of Irbid has been grown up.Since the second half of the nineteenth centaury till the present, several individuals and archaeological expedition visited, surveyed and sounded several areas of the Tell. In addition,ancient tombs dated to the Bronze Ages, Iron Ages and some were reused during the Roman periods were found at the site. Apparently, the uncovered archaeological material at Tell Irbid indicated that it has been continuously occupied from the fourth till the middle of the first millennia BC.
In 1995 the Department of Antiquities conducted an excavation in the courtyard of Dar es-Saraya building on top of Tell Irbid, under the supervision of Ruba Abu Dalu. This presentation aims at presenting a preliminary report about the Late Bronze and the Iron Age found archaeological material in parallel with those excavated by earlier excavations at the site of Tell Irbid. Examples of the excavated Late Bronze and Iron Ages architectures and pottery will be discussed.
In 1995 the Department of Antiquities conducted an excavation in the courtyard of Dar es-Saraya building on top of Tell Irbid, under the supervision of Ruba Abu Dalu. This presentation aims at presenting a preliminary report about the Late Bronze and the Iron Age found archaeological material in parallel with those excavated by earlier excavations at the site of Tell Irbid. Examples of the excavated Late Bronze and Iron Ages architectures and pottery will be discussed.
Tell Irbid during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages: New Results
Zeidan Kafafi and Ruba Abu Dalu
Introduction
Tell Irbid is located in the center of the modern city Irbid, in north of Jordan (Grid number 674 062, map reference= Jordan 1/50,000, Sheet 3153- Series K737 ed. 2). The Tell considered to be one of the largest artificial tells in both Jordan and Palestine. It measures about 500m by 400m and is 578m above the sea level. Unfortunately, during the last decades the site has been altered on sides as the city of Irbid has been grown up. The name Irbid is derived from the Roman town or village name Arbela, mentioned by Eusebius of Caesarea in the early fourth century A.D. Moreover, C. Lenzen and A. Knauf (1987) proposed that the name of the site in the Late Bronze Age was gintôt, which means "the place of the winepress" mentioned in Thutmose III texts and the Amarna Letters.
The area of the Tell is poor in permanent perennial water resources; only one natural spring has been registered in the region (Lenzen and McQuitty 1989:298). Nevertheless, the surrounding area of the site is fertile and since ancient times has supported agriculture consisting of grain, vegetables and fruit trees.
Several major and minor wadis are located in the vicinity of Tell Irbid, and Wadi al-'Arab is one of the most important one. In addition, basalt boulders are still visible in the plains of Irbid; these were probably pushed to the area during the Pleistocene era
Fieldworks
The site Tell Irbid has been visited and explored since the nineteenth century when the early travelers and explorers registered mainly remains of classical antiquity in the vicinity of the modern city Irbid. The importance of the Tell was first noted by W.F. Albright (1929:10) and N. Glueck (1951:153-154), who identified the Tell as one of the Late Bronze Age sites in north of Jordan. Since the second half of the twentieth century, several salvage, rescue and research excavations have been conducted at the site. During the Late fifties and early sixties R. Dajani excavated several MB/LB, LB and Iron Ages tombs found on the Tell Irbid and the Refugee Camp adjacent to it (Dajani 1964; 1966).
The tomb excavations were followed in 1983- 1986 by a survey, salvage and rescue excavations conducted jointly by Yarmouk University, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan and the Municipality of Irbid (Lenzen 1989).
During the nineties of the last century, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan compensated the Dar es-Saraya Building*, which was used as a prison for some time, and decided to convert it to an archaeological museum. In addition to the renovation operations, two test excavations have been undertaken in the courtyard of the building by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. The first one started in 1995, under the supervision of Ruba Abu Dalu and the second tookplace in 2006 under the directorship of Khaled Nashef.
This paper aims at presenting a discussion of the chronology and archaeology of Tell Irbid, based on both published and unpublished results of excavations conducted at the site.
Results of Excavations
Generally speaking, and as a result of the above mentioned fieldworks, it has been deduced that the site was first occupied during the fourth millennium BC (Chalcolithic period) and continued to be occupied till ca. 800 BC (Lenzen 1992: 456; Lenzen and McQuitty 1989: 299).
Tell Irbid was enclosed with a city-wall during the Early Bronze Age, and parts of it still visible in the western side of the site (Dajani 1966:88). Moreover, the archaeological excavations conducted at the site in 1985 and 1986 revealed remains of a city-wall dated to the Middle Bronze Age, which was reused during the LBII (Lenzen 1992:456). In addition, remains dated to the Late Bronze Age III/Iron 1 Ages were also excavated.
Unfortunately, the top archaeological layers of the Tell has completely removed and replaced by building up modern buildings and one of them is the Ottoman build Dar es-Sarayah. Thus no archaeological remains were reported from the Tell and dated to after 800 BC (Lenzen 1992; Lenzen and McQuitty 1989).
In addition to the excavations conduced at the Northern side of the Tell, in 1958-59 R. W. Dajani excavated a number of tombs (A, B, C, D and E) and most of them were uncovered in the Palestinian Refugee Camp, which is adjacent to the northern side of the Tell, and might be considered as a part of it. The excavator dated the excavated archaeological objects found in these tombs to the LB-Early Iron Ages (Dajani 1966:88).
Moreover, in 1968, two other tombs were excavated on the Tell and the found pottery vessels consisted of imported and local pottery dated to the MBIII/LBI period (ca. 1600-1490 BC)(Kafafi 1977).
Due to the fact that the main aim of this paper is at presenting information about Tell Irbid during the Late Bronze and the Iron Ages, below we present a brief study of the results of the archaeological remains found at the site and dated to those periods.
Tell Irbid during the Late Bronze Ages (ca. 1550-1200 BC
The archaeological excavations conducted at Tell Irbid proved that it has been settled as early as the Chalcolithic period. Moreover, archaeological materials belonging to the Late Bronze Age I (ca. 1550-1400 BC), Late Bronze Age II (ca.1400-1300 BC) and LBIII (ca. 1300-1200 BC) were also excavated at the site. Below we present a brief study for the uncovered material belonging to each sub-period.
a. Late Bronze Age I (ca. 155-1400 BC
The area of the Tell is poor in permanent perennial water resources; only one natural spring has been registered in the region (Lenzen and McQuitty 1989:298). Nevertheless, the surrounding area of the site is fertile and since ancient times has supported agriculture consisting of grain, vegetables and fruit trees.
Several major and minor wadis are located in the vicinity of Tell Irbid, and Wadi al-'Arab is one of the most important one. In addition, basalt boulders are still visible in the plains of Irbid; these were probably pushed to the area during the Pleistocene era
Fieldworks
The site Tell Irbid has been visited and explored since the nineteenth century when the early travelers and explorers registered mainly remains of classical antiquity in the vicinity of the modern city Irbid. The importance of the Tell was first noted by W.F. Albright (1929:10) and N. Glueck (1951:153-154), who identified the Tell as one of the Late Bronze Age sites in north of Jordan. Since the second half of the twentieth century, several salvage, rescue and research excavations have been conducted at the site. During the Late fifties and early sixties R. Dajani excavated several MB/LB, LB and Iron Ages tombs found on the Tell Irbid and the Refugee Camp adjacent to it (Dajani 1964; 1966).
The tomb excavations were followed in 1983- 1986 by a survey, salvage and rescue excavations conducted jointly by Yarmouk University, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan and the Municipality of Irbid (Lenzen 1989).
During the nineties of the last century, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan compensated the Dar es-Saraya Building*, which was used as a prison for some time, and decided to convert it to an archaeological museum. In addition to the renovation operations, two test excavations have been undertaken in the courtyard of the building by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. The first one started in 1995, under the supervision of Ruba Abu Dalu and the second tookplace in 2006 under the directorship of Khaled Nashef.
This paper aims at presenting a discussion of the chronology and archaeology of Tell Irbid, based on both published and unpublished results of excavations conducted at the site.
Results of Excavations
Generally speaking, and as a result of the above mentioned fieldworks, it has been deduced that the site was first occupied during the fourth millennium BC (Chalcolithic period) and continued to be occupied till ca. 800 BC (Lenzen 1992: 456; Lenzen and McQuitty 1989: 299).
Tell Irbid was enclosed with a city-wall during the Early Bronze Age, and parts of it still visible in the western side of the site (Dajani 1966:88). Moreover, the archaeological excavations conducted at the site in 1985 and 1986 revealed remains of a city-wall dated to the Middle Bronze Age, which was reused during the LBII (Lenzen 1992:456). In addition, remains dated to the Late Bronze Age III/Iron 1 Ages were also excavated.
Unfortunately, the top archaeological layers of the Tell has completely removed and replaced by building up modern buildings and one of them is the Ottoman build Dar es-Sarayah. Thus no archaeological remains were reported from the Tell and dated to after 800 BC (Lenzen 1992; Lenzen and McQuitty 1989).
In addition to the excavations conduced at the Northern side of the Tell, in 1958-59 R. W. Dajani excavated a number of tombs (A, B, C, D and E) and most of them were uncovered in the Palestinian Refugee Camp, which is adjacent to the northern side of the Tell, and might be considered as a part of it. The excavator dated the excavated archaeological objects found in these tombs to the LB-Early Iron Ages (Dajani 1966:88).
Moreover, in 1968, two other tombs were excavated on the Tell and the found pottery vessels consisted of imported and local pottery dated to the MBIII/LBI period (ca. 1600-1490 BC)(Kafafi 1977).
Due to the fact that the main aim of this paper is at presenting information about Tell Irbid during the Late Bronze and the Iron Ages, below we present a brief study of the results of the archaeological remains found at the site and dated to those periods.
Tell Irbid during the Late Bronze Ages (ca. 1550-1200 BC
The archaeological excavations conducted at Tell Irbid proved that it has been settled as early as the Chalcolithic period. Moreover, archaeological materials belonging to the Late Bronze Age I (ca. 1550-1400 BC), Late Bronze Age II (ca.1400-1300 BC) and LBIII (ca. 1300-1200 BC) were also excavated at the site. Below we present a brief study for the uncovered material belonging to each sub-period.
a. Late Bronze Age I (ca. 155-1400 BC
It has been published that during the archaeological excavations conducted at the northern side of the Tell, only fill ceramics dated to the early part of this period has been uncovered (Lenzen and McQuitty 1989: 299). In addition, in the year 1968, two tombs were uncovered on the Tell. The finds of these tombs, which are on display at Dar es-Saraya Museum in Irbid, were studied by Z. Kafafi (1977: 111-148). The findings of these tombs consisted of local and imported pottery vessels. Parallels were found in sites in both Jordan and Palestine (Lachish "Tomb 119 and Tomb 1555", Hazor "Tombs 9024 Area D, 7021 Area E" , Megiddo "Strata X-VIII", Beth-Shemesh "Stratum IVa" and Tell Beit Mirsim "Stratum D"). Based on this parallel study the excavated pottery pots from those two tombs might be dated to a period ranging from the MBIII (ca. 1650-1550) to the beginning of the LBI (ca. 1550-1490 BC) (Kafafi 1977:113).
b. Late Bronze Age II (ca. 1400-1300 BC
In 1958/1959, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan uncovered a number of tombs at the ancient tell of Irbid, in the Palestinian Refugee Camp Tombs A-D) (Dajani 1964; 1966). Tomb D was dated by the excavator to the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age periods (ca. 1350- 1100 BC) (Dajani 1964: 99-101).
Parallels for the excavated pottery pots from the tomb were found at Hazor, Strata 1A and 1B in the Lower City (Yadin et al 1958: 81; 1960: 111). The pottery vessels excavated in Stratum 1B at Hazor were encountered lying over Late Bronze Age Ib (ca. 1479-1400 BC) contents (which belongs to Stratum 2) and under Stratum 1A (Yadin et al 1958:81, 105). In addition, at Area "F" and in Tomb 8144-8145 a large quantity of vessels related to Stratum 1B, dated to the LBII period (Yadin et al 1960:140), was found and some of it was similar to those from Irbid Tomb "D".
Stratum "C", dated to the Late Bronze Age, at Tell Beit Mirsim (Albright 1932:Pl. 48) produced similar saucer lamps to those from Irbid Tomb "D". Moreover, Stratum VIIB at Megiddo dated to the LBII produced several parallels for Tomb "D" objects (Loud 1948a: 5, 29; 1948b). Few parallels were visible at Beth-Shemsh, Stratum IV, which is dated to the LBII period (Tufnell et al 1958b: Pls. XXXV: 9, XXIX: 3). Also, parallels were found at Gezer (Cave I.10A) dated to the LBI/LBII "ca. 1400 BC" (Dever et al 1971: 104-105; Seger 1972).
To conclude, the parallel study of the excavated pottery vessels encountered in Tom "D" at Tell Irbid indicated that the most acceptable date is going over the last phase of the Late Bronze Age II (ca. 1350-1300 BC) (Kafafi 1977), and does not go through the Iron Age period as the excavator believed (Dajani 1964:101).
Late Bronze Age III/Iron I Ages (ca. 1300 – 1000 BC
During the eighties of the last century the Municipality of Irbid atarted widening the street encircling the Tell from north and northwestern sides in the purpose of constructing stores. Thus, the rescues and salvage excavations conducted in 1985 and 1986 by C. Lenzen and her group concentrated their efforts on excavating this part of the site aiming at reiterating, recording and documenting all archaeological data before being lost.
Several areas were opened (A-C) and domestic constructions have been exposed indicating the urban nature of the site. An enclosure complex was first built in ca. 2000 BC, and continued in use during the following periods has been partially excavated.
In addition, remains dated to the Late Bronze Age III/Iron 1 Ages were also excavated. An architectural complex consisted of a perimeter wall; four to five separate rooms, a tower and a sanctuary were exposed. The building was multistoried and built by mud-brick walls on stone foundation (Lenzen 1997:181; Lenzen and McQuitty 1989: 299).
Inside this construction cultic objects and pottery vessels dated to the LBIII/Iron 1 were found. Above this complex the excavators reported that they found four meter of destruction debris, perhaps caused by natural means (Lenzen 1997) and not by a military destruction. It seems that during the beginning of the Iron Age the nature of settlement has been changed from public to domestic.
It has been published by the excavators that following the destruction of the complex, the debris was leveled and the stones were reused to construct a domestic and industrial area. Moreover, it has been declared that it was only the complex area which was destroyed, in the meantime the rest of the site attested changes in construction techniques from the Late Bronze Age III to the Iron Age. In addition, the pottery corpus excavated shows a gradual change in typology (Lenzen 1997:181).
Iron Age II (ca. 1000 – 586 B
In 1958 four tombs were excavated at the Refugee Camp adjacent to the tell from the northern part, and three (A-C) of those yielded pottery pots dated mainly to the Iron II period.
Tombs A and B consisted of two burial caves and connected with one another by a passageway. Unfortunately, both burials were disturbed by human activities and filled with debris.
In addition to the 200 pottery pots found in the two burials, other funerary objects consisted of stone and metal such as earrings and beads (Dajani 1966:88).
The excavator argued that Tomb "A" should be dated to the Iron Age, while "B" to the transitional period LB/Iron I.
Tomb "C" has been described as a small rock cut cave, oval in shape and has a bench at the end of the cave. The excavators found a human skeletal remain was put on top of the bench with few pottery pots placed close to the skull. It seems that the tomb was robbed in a later period.
Only fifteen intact pottery vessels were found inside the tomb, beside a zoomorphic vessel. The excavator dated this tomb to a period ranging from ca. 1350-1150 BC (Dajani 1966:89), which is unacceptable.
Dar es-Saraya 1995 Test Excavations
Dar es-Saraya is an Ottoman building constructed on the southern slope of Tell Irbid during the Ottoman reign on Jordan. The construction has been used as a prison for a while by the Jordanian authorities. However, the Department of Antiquities and during the nineties of the last century decided to compensate the construction in the aim of turning it to an archaeological museum. Thus, it has been going under reconstructing and renovation operations.
The Department of Antiquities of Jordan grasped this opportunity and decided in the period ranging between 7/2/1995 to 1/7/1995 to undertake test excavations in the courtyard of the building. Below, we present preliminary ideas about the results of this excavation, hoping that a detailed study of the results of this dig is planned for the future.
The Excavation
b. Late Bronze Age II (ca. 1400-1300 BC
In 1958/1959, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan uncovered a number of tombs at the ancient tell of Irbid, in the Palestinian Refugee Camp Tombs A-D) (Dajani 1964; 1966). Tomb D was dated by the excavator to the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age periods (ca. 1350- 1100 BC) (Dajani 1964: 99-101).
Parallels for the excavated pottery pots from the tomb were found at Hazor, Strata 1A and 1B in the Lower City (Yadin et al 1958: 81; 1960: 111). The pottery vessels excavated in Stratum 1B at Hazor were encountered lying over Late Bronze Age Ib (ca. 1479-1400 BC) contents (which belongs to Stratum 2) and under Stratum 1A (Yadin et al 1958:81, 105). In addition, at Area "F" and in Tomb 8144-8145 a large quantity of vessels related to Stratum 1B, dated to the LBII period (Yadin et al 1960:140), was found and some of it was similar to those from Irbid Tomb "D".
Stratum "C", dated to the Late Bronze Age, at Tell Beit Mirsim (Albright 1932:Pl. 48) produced similar saucer lamps to those from Irbid Tomb "D". Moreover, Stratum VIIB at Megiddo dated to the LBII produced several parallels for Tomb "D" objects (Loud 1948a: 5, 29; 1948b). Few parallels were visible at Beth-Shemsh, Stratum IV, which is dated to the LBII period (Tufnell et al 1958b: Pls. XXXV: 9, XXIX: 3). Also, parallels were found at Gezer (Cave I.10A) dated to the LBI/LBII "ca. 1400 BC" (Dever et al 1971: 104-105; Seger 1972).
To conclude, the parallel study of the excavated pottery vessels encountered in Tom "D" at Tell Irbid indicated that the most acceptable date is going over the last phase of the Late Bronze Age II (ca. 1350-1300 BC) (Kafafi 1977), and does not go through the Iron Age period as the excavator believed (Dajani 1964:101).
Late Bronze Age III/Iron I Ages (ca. 1300 – 1000 BC
During the eighties of the last century the Municipality of Irbid atarted widening the street encircling the Tell from north and northwestern sides in the purpose of constructing stores. Thus, the rescues and salvage excavations conducted in 1985 and 1986 by C. Lenzen and her group concentrated their efforts on excavating this part of the site aiming at reiterating, recording and documenting all archaeological data before being lost.
Several areas were opened (A-C) and domestic constructions have been exposed indicating the urban nature of the site. An enclosure complex was first built in ca. 2000 BC, and continued in use during the following periods has been partially excavated.
In addition, remains dated to the Late Bronze Age III/Iron 1 Ages were also excavated. An architectural complex consisted of a perimeter wall; four to five separate rooms, a tower and a sanctuary were exposed. The building was multistoried and built by mud-brick walls on stone foundation (Lenzen 1997:181; Lenzen and McQuitty 1989: 299).
Inside this construction cultic objects and pottery vessels dated to the LBIII/Iron 1 were found. Above this complex the excavators reported that they found four meter of destruction debris, perhaps caused by natural means (Lenzen 1997) and not by a military destruction. It seems that during the beginning of the Iron Age the nature of settlement has been changed from public to domestic.
It has been published by the excavators that following the destruction of the complex, the debris was leveled and the stones were reused to construct a domestic and industrial area. Moreover, it has been declared that it was only the complex area which was destroyed, in the meantime the rest of the site attested changes in construction techniques from the Late Bronze Age III to the Iron Age. In addition, the pottery corpus excavated shows a gradual change in typology (Lenzen 1997:181).
Iron Age II (ca. 1000 – 586 B
In 1958 four tombs were excavated at the Refugee Camp adjacent to the tell from the northern part, and three (A-C) of those yielded pottery pots dated mainly to the Iron II period.
Tombs A and B consisted of two burial caves and connected with one another by a passageway. Unfortunately, both burials were disturbed by human activities and filled with debris.
In addition to the 200 pottery pots found in the two burials, other funerary objects consisted of stone and metal such as earrings and beads (Dajani 1966:88).
The excavator argued that Tomb "A" should be dated to the Iron Age, while "B" to the transitional period LB/Iron I.
Tomb "C" has been described as a small rock cut cave, oval in shape and has a bench at the end of the cave. The excavators found a human skeletal remain was put on top of the bench with few pottery pots placed close to the skull. It seems that the tomb was robbed in a later period.
Only fifteen intact pottery vessels were found inside the tomb, beside a zoomorphic vessel. The excavator dated this tomb to a period ranging from ca. 1350-1150 BC (Dajani 1966:89), which is unacceptable.
Dar es-Saraya 1995 Test Excavations
Dar es-Saraya is an Ottoman building constructed on the southern slope of Tell Irbid during the Ottoman reign on Jordan. The construction has been used as a prison for a while by the Jordanian authorities. However, the Department of Antiquities and during the nineties of the last century decided to compensate the construction in the aim of turning it to an archaeological museum. Thus, it has been going under reconstructing and renovation operations.
The Department of Antiquities of Jordan grasped this opportunity and decided in the period ranging between 7/2/1995 to 1/7/1995 to undertake test excavations in the courtyard of the building. Below, we present preliminary ideas about the results of this excavation, hoping that a detailed study of the results of this dig is planned for the future.
The Excavation
Before starting the excavating operations, a grid of squares was made. Only two squares (A1 and B1) were excavated and each measures 5x5m.
The excavator mentioned that four occupational phases are recognizable, and as the following:
Phase IV = Early Bronze Age
Phase III = Iron Ages
Phase II = Ayyubid/Mamluk
Phase I= Late Ottoman
No Ottoman architectural remains were encountered in the excavated squares. Actually, it was only Ottoman pipe fragments were encountered from this period.
In Phase II, glazed Ayy./Mam. Pottery sherds, a water channel, a basin and Tabun fragments were dug.
The richest archaeological materials were found in loci belonging to the Iron Age II. A large amount of pottery sherds, large walls constructed of basalt boulders, Tabun fragments, a human figurine and a floor built of red mud- bricks were uncovered.
Phase IV has been assigned to the Bronze Ages. The excavated pottery sherds are belonging to the last stage of the Middle Bronze, the beginning of the Late Bronze Ages, the Late Bronze Age III. In fact, Bichrome Ware sherds are visible amongst the dug collection. Pottery sherds decorated with red and brown metops or lines which considered as characteristics of the Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650-1550 BC) and the Late Bronze Age Ia (ca. 1550- 1490 BC) were recognizable.
In addition, Late Bronze Age III/ Iron I pottery sherds are also identifiable. From the assemblage a Mycenaean pottery sherd is noticeable. Moreover, cooking pots with triangular rims, which are typical of the end of the Late Bronze and the beginning of the Iron Age were found.
To sum up, it is obvious from the preliminary study of the excavated pottery sherds in the courtyard of Dar es-Saraya that the Tell has a long occupation started from the Early Bronze Age through the Islamic periods. Unfortunately, though the results of this test excavations are of great importance, but we still need a detailed and through study to understand the nature of occupation and the type of settlement all through periods.
Conclusion
To conclude, Tell Irbid which represents one of the largest tell in the south of the Levant witnessed several rescue and test excavations. Unfortunately, till the present not a single regular one has been undertaken. Nevertheless, this study compiled information from published and unpublished reports in the aim of achieving a first step towards building up a chronological table for the site. Indeed, archaeological material dated to the MB, LB, Iron Age, Ayyubid/Mamluk and Otttoman periods were found.
The excavated Late Bronze and Iron Ages tombs at the Palestinian Refugee Camp indicate that those periods were present at the site, but never give a complete idea about the type of the daily life. Thus, despite the fact that the excavated area at Dar es-Saraya is very small compared to the main area of the site, but it still very important in giving an idea in building up a chronological sequence for the Tell. In addition, it may be declared that we still lack a large scale excavation to be undertaken at the site. This may hep in understanding the settlement patterns all through time and exposing a complete plan of the excavated archaeological remains. With the opening of the Dar es-Saray Archaeological Museum, this may help in bring the City of Irbid as a target for tourist groups.
* Dar es-Saraya is a construction built during the last phase of the Ottman Period and has been used during the twentieth century as a prison.
Bibliography
Albright, W. F. 1932; The Excavations of Tell Beit Mirsim I, The Pottery of the First Three Campaigns. The Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research 12 (1930-1931). New Haven: American Schools of Oriental Research.
Albright, W. F. 1929; New Israelite and Pre-Israelite Sites: The Spring Trip of 1929. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 35: 12-14.
Dajani, R. W. 1964; Iron Age Tombs from Irbid. Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan 8-9: 99-101.
Dajani, R. W. 1966; Four Iron Age Tombs from Irbed. Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan XI: 88-101.
Dever, W. G. et al 1971; Further Excavations at Gezer, 1967-1971. Biblical Archaeologist 34: 94-132.
Glueck, N. 1951; Explorations in Eastern Palestine, IV. Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research 25-28. New Haven.
Kafafi, Z. 1977; Late Bronze Age Pottery from Jordan (East Bank). Unpublished M.A. Thesis submitted to the University of Jordan.
Lenzen, C. J. 1997; Irbid. P. 181 in E. M. Meyers (ed.); The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lenzen, C. J. 1992; Irbid, Tell. Pp. 456-457 in D. N. Freedman et al (eds.), The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume 3, H-J. New York: Doubleday.
Lenzen, C. J. and Knauf, E. A. 1987; Notes on Syrian Place Names in Egyptian Sources. Göttingen.
Lenzen, C. and McQuitty, A. 1989; Irbid (Tell). Pp. 298-300 in D. Homès-Fredricq and J. B. Hennessy (eds.), Archaeology of Jordan. II1 Fieldwork Reports, Surveys and Sites A-K. Akkadica Supplementum VII. Leuven: Peters.
Loud, G. 1948a; Megiddo II, Seasons of 1935-39, Text. Chicago: The University of hicago.
Loud, G. 1948b; Megiddo II, Seasons of 1935-39, Plates. Chicago: The University of hicago.
Seger, G. A. 1972; Tomb Offerings from Gezer. Jerusalem: the Rockefeller Museum.
Tufnell, O. 1958a; Lachish IV (Tell ed-Duweir), The Bronze Age, Text. London: Oxford University Press.
Tufnell, O. 1958b; Lachish IV (Tell ed-Duweir), The Bronze Age, Plates. London: Oxford University Press.
Yadin, Y. et al 1958; Hazor I, an Account of the First Season of Excavations, 1955. Jerusalem: the Magnes Press.
Yadin, Y. et al 1960; Hazor II, an Account of the Second Season of Excavations, 1956. Jerusalem: the Magnes Press.
The excavator mentioned that four occupational phases are recognizable, and as the following:
Phase IV = Early Bronze Age
Phase III = Iron Ages
Phase II = Ayyubid/Mamluk
Phase I= Late Ottoman
No Ottoman architectural remains were encountered in the excavated squares. Actually, it was only Ottoman pipe fragments were encountered from this period.
In Phase II, glazed Ayy./Mam. Pottery sherds, a water channel, a basin and Tabun fragments were dug.
The richest archaeological materials were found in loci belonging to the Iron Age II. A large amount of pottery sherds, large walls constructed of basalt boulders, Tabun fragments, a human figurine and a floor built of red mud- bricks were uncovered.
Phase IV has been assigned to the Bronze Ages. The excavated pottery sherds are belonging to the last stage of the Middle Bronze, the beginning of the Late Bronze Ages, the Late Bronze Age III. In fact, Bichrome Ware sherds are visible amongst the dug collection. Pottery sherds decorated with red and brown metops or lines which considered as characteristics of the Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650-1550 BC) and the Late Bronze Age Ia (ca. 1550- 1490 BC) were recognizable.
In addition, Late Bronze Age III/ Iron I pottery sherds are also identifiable. From the assemblage a Mycenaean pottery sherd is noticeable. Moreover, cooking pots with triangular rims, which are typical of the end of the Late Bronze and the beginning of the Iron Age were found.
To sum up, it is obvious from the preliminary study of the excavated pottery sherds in the courtyard of Dar es-Saraya that the Tell has a long occupation started from the Early Bronze Age through the Islamic periods. Unfortunately, though the results of this test excavations are of great importance, but we still need a detailed and through study to understand the nature of occupation and the type of settlement all through periods.
Conclusion
To conclude, Tell Irbid which represents one of the largest tell in the south of the Levant witnessed several rescue and test excavations. Unfortunately, till the present not a single regular one has been undertaken. Nevertheless, this study compiled information from published and unpublished reports in the aim of achieving a first step towards building up a chronological table for the site. Indeed, archaeological material dated to the MB, LB, Iron Age, Ayyubid/Mamluk and Otttoman periods were found.
The excavated Late Bronze and Iron Ages tombs at the Palestinian Refugee Camp indicate that those periods were present at the site, but never give a complete idea about the type of the daily life. Thus, despite the fact that the excavated area at Dar es-Saraya is very small compared to the main area of the site, but it still very important in giving an idea in building up a chronological sequence for the Tell. In addition, it may be declared that we still lack a large scale excavation to be undertaken at the site. This may hep in understanding the settlement patterns all through time and exposing a complete plan of the excavated archaeological remains. With the opening of the Dar es-Saray Archaeological Museum, this may help in bring the City of Irbid as a target for tourist groups.
* Dar es-Saraya is a construction built during the last phase of the Ottman Period and has been used during the twentieth century as a prison.
Bibliography
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