Preliminary Report on the 1999 Swiss-Liechtenstein excavations at ez Zantur
by Bernhard Kolb and Daniel Keller
V. Ez Zantur IV: Rooms 5, 22–23, 27, and 30 (PQ 91–93/AM)
The layout of rooms 5, 27, 30 and 22, exposed in the squares 92–93/AM–AN, closely resembles the one of rooms 19, 7, 6 and 17 in the stately part of the building (fig. 1–2). The central exedra 27 (ca. 5.3 x 4.1 m) with two doors to the adjacent western and eastern rooms 30 and 22 respectively, is separated from courtyard 5 by a distylos in antis (Fig. 10). Another corresponding feature are the two corridors (18 and 23) along the lateral rooms (cp. 11 and 8). Except for the reverse orientation, the arrangement of rooms in the western wing differs from the stately southern one solely in its reduced scale and the simpler furnishing (infra).
Fig. 10: EZ IV. Rooms 27 and 5 to the south (photo: D. Keller)
The presumably pieced on „base collars“ (supra) of the two columns (Diam. 60 cm) between rooms 27 and 5 as well as the eastern anta are missing completely, while at least the western anta is preserved – although in a critical state. All the better is the state of repair of the capital of the western anta, found in the débris (Fig. 11). It represents McKenzie’s heterodox/floral type of the Corinthian capital with the peculiarity of entwined cauliculi and vine branches bearing grapes below the volutes. The capital fragments exposed in the area of courtyard 19 during the campaign of 1998 are of the identical type, except additional reliefed vine branches on the abacus Kolb – Gorgerat – Grawehr 1999: 265, Fig. 5. .
Fig. 11: EZ IV. Room 27. Capital of the western anta (photo: O. Jäggi)
The blocking of all doors between rooms 27 and 22 and two out of the three doors between rooms 27 and 30 cannot be dated so far. The same applies to the removal of the pavement in room 27. The bedding of the latter pavement had collapsed in two places, revealing a beautifully preserved but yet uncleared cistern which was cut at least 3.5 m deep into the bedrock (Fig. 12). Four closely spaced arches (35–50 cm) span the cistern in NS orientation. Fig. 12 captures the result of an incident which happened some 1900 years ago: Stuck between the springers of the two western arches a complete Nabataean vessel of the late first/early second century AD For the dating of the vessel thanks are due to Stephan G. Schmid (Athen). came to light. Presumably, the receptacle had fallen into the cistern and was then carried up to the arches by the rising water level inside the cistern. Puzzling, however, is the lack of evidence concerning the feeding of the cistern. Presently, neither a horizontal nor a vertical inlet can be ascertained. If the cistern was fed by runoff water collected on the roofs, the water must have entered the cistern through a drain somewhere west of the northern section of wall AM, i. e. in the area where the bedding of the pavement has collapsed. The rock hewn spill-over channel, conversely, which begins at the south-eastern corner of the cistern, halfway between the eastern column and anta respectively, is very well preserved. The water was channelled southward through corridor 2, room 12, corridor 11 and crossed under the pavement of room 10 Kolb – Gorgerat – Grawehr 1999: 267, Fig. 9. . A second rock-hewn cistern has been partly exposed east of room 27, in room 22, where the flagstone pavement as well as the subfloor-construction are missing completely. In both cisterns the original waterproof hydraulic mortar is very well preserved.
Fig. 12: EZ IV. Cistern beneath room 27 (photo: D. Keller)
Remarkably numerous were the fragments of painted interior decoration found in room 27. Although the material has not been studied in detail yet, it is clear that white horizontal panels with red drafts were the basic module. The white panels (appr. 135 x 45 cm) are painted with outlines of lozenges in shades of blue and grey. Identical in colour but somewhat more elaborate was the rendering of the panels known from the temple at Iram Savignac – Horsfield 1935: 252ff., figs. 6f. . These fragments of decoration belong to the remodelling Phase IIb, during which thin dwarf walls were constructed between the columns of the naos. A controversial graffito on painted stucco fragments from the inner face of the dwarf walls seems to date Subphase IIb to the year 41 of the reign of Aretas IV (32 AD) Tholbecq 1998: 245 with note 18; cp. Zayadine 1998: 257. . Further evidence suggesting that the Nabataeans were particularly fond of the described panel decoration is provided by the reliefs of the temple at Khirbeth ed-Darigh, again dated to the first century AD Dentzer-Feydy 1990: 233, Fig. 2. . Worth noting is that Late Hellenistic and Roman predecessors are commonly restricted to moulded or painted coffered ceilings and vaults Ling 1972: esp. pl. XII: Pompeii, House of the Cryptoporticus; Barbet 1985: 82ff., figs. 46–49. . At a date yet unknown, the interior decoration of room 27 was covered by a coat of plaster.
