In 2003 a cistern was discovered just outside, i. e. to the North, of the Soldier’s Tomb complex, measuring 5.2 m x 3.4 m and 2.20 m of depth (Fig. 14). Since last year only half of it was excavated, this season the other half was completed.
Fig. 14: cistern 1 in front of Soldier’s Tomb complex (photo: S. G. Schmid)
As last year, the upper levels did contain Nabataean pottery mixed up with substantial amounts of Medieval pottery, while the lower level, i. e. the last 30cm on top of the floor, where densely packed with Nabataean pottery (Fig. 15).
Fig. 15: Bottom of cistern with Nabataean pottery in situ (photo: S. G. Schmid)
The pottery of that last level shows a astonishing homogeneity, with almost 100% belonging to the last quarter of the 1st century AD (figs. 16–18), or in terms of the phasing used for the painted pottery illustrated on fig. 17, phase 3b On Nabataean pottery see Schmid 2000A. .
Fig. 16: Nabataean pottery from bottom of cistern (photo: S. G. Schmid)
Interestingly, although there were several more or less complete dishes and other forms of plain fine and coarse ware (cf. fig. 16), there was much less of painted pottery and most of it highly fragmented (Fig. 17), the exception being two complete painted bowls (top centre on fig. 16).
Fig. 17: Painted pottery from bottom of cistern (photo: S. G. Schmid)
As can be illustrated with the small selection of coarse ware pottery on fig. 18, we are readily dealing with an almost complete household, containing all types of vessels needed for storing, preparing and serving of food and drings. Still, it remains difficult to explain why a huge assemblage of complete and, therefore, still functioning pottery was thrown away into a cistern Cf. Schmid – Barmasse 2003. . On the other hand, this almost complete „household“ of pottery from the late 1st century AD clearly illustrates the multipurpose aspects of the Soldier’s Tomb complex.
Fig. 18: Coarse ware pottery from bottom of cistern (photo: S. G. Schmid)
