A trench measuring 5m x 5m was opened in the northern portico adjacent to room 3 (Fig. 2–4; cf. fig. 1). As could be expected, the following two columns of the portico were found, confirming the basic dimensions of this architectural feature, as known from previous years, that is a standard-intercolumnium of 187 cm, a bay of 247 cm and a width of the portico of 3.65 m. As already observed on other occasions, most of the original floor slabs had been taken away, most probably already in antiquity. Since most of the fallen down column drums and other architectural members were standing and lying on several centimeters of earth directly on the foundations of the slabs, this means that the slabs already had been robbed out when the column collapsed. As can be seen on center top of fig. 2 and is also obvious from the results within room 3 (see below), a rather huge door ones connected room 3 to the adjacent portico, but was narrowed and eventually closed in subsequent later phases.
Fig. 2: Wadi Farasa East, lower terrace; northern porticus with fallen column drums, capital and double arch (photo: S. G. Schmid)
From the architectural members found in the debris, several interesting information can be gained. From one of the columns, most probably belonging to the central entrance way according to the position, the uppermost column drum, the capitel and the first block belonging to the roofing construction were found in a row (Fig. 2 center right; fig. 3 bottom center). Surprisingly, the stone just above the capital clearly shows the beginning of two arches. When looking closer one realizes that there are small differences in the degree of inclination of the two arches, and, therefore, either one of the was wider or one was higher with both showing equal width. Two basic possibilities for a solution can be proposed at this stage of our investigations. Either the colonnade showed a front of columns crowned by arches, or we have to reckon a second colonnade, at least for the northern part of the complex.
Fig. 3: Wadi Farasa East, lower terrace; northern portico, fallen column drums, capital and double arch (photo: S. G. Schmid)Fig. 4: Wadi Farasa East, lower terrace; detail of capital from northern portico (photo: S. G. Schmid)
Unfortunately, at the present stage no decision can be made. Since the intercolumnium of the two columns forming the entrance indeed is wider as the above mentioned standard of 187 cm (224 cm), the different inclination of the arches could be do to this. On the other hand, one could easily imagine a second colonnade of a slightly smaller height. On rather tempting argument could speak in favor of a second colonnade: With just one colonnade at the northern side of the complex, the façade of the Soldier’s Tombs is clearly decentralized, with just 2.45 m space between the southern portico and the façade of the tomb, while there are 6.00m space between the northern portico and the façade. With a second portico at the northern side, measuring 3.65m as the first one, the space would be reduced to exactly 2.45 m and, therefore, offering a perfect symmetry! However, for the time being no physical evidence for a second colonnade at the northern side was found a there would be a mathematical problem as for the joining of the second colonnade from the northern side with the one on the eastern side in front of the triclinium.
Contrary to the capitals discovered so far, the one from the northern portico exposed this year was very well preserved on one side (Fig. 3) and allows a better understanding of its ancient form. Contrary to our previous assumption of simple, not decorated Doric capitals, we are in reality dealing with a form of richly modeled capitals (on different types of capitals used by the Nabataeans Cf. Netzer 2003: 159–164. .
