In terms of restauration an additional course of stones was added to the main retaining wall of the complex (cf. fig. 20 and wall 1 on fig. 1). As in previous years, the newly added stones were fixed with an elastic mortar containing crushed pottery fragments in order to improve its hydraulic qualities and, therefore, a kind of a modern version of Nabataean mortar. The same technique was applied for the fixing of a few floor slabs in the northern portico and in order to prepare the restauration of the staircase (room 8), where we plan to add several more steps in a next season.
Fig. 20: Wadi Farasa East, complex of the Soldier’s Tomb, general view (photo: S. G. Schmid)
With the completition of our 2004 season, all the built structures forming the northern part of the Soldier’s tomb complex are exposed (Fig. 20) and the third dimension of that once sumptuous installations becomes clearly visible, including clear evidence as for an upper floor. As was demonstrated this year with the recovering of the double arches once put on top of the columns, there are still some unknown elements as for the architecture of the complex. Therefore, and because of the remaining maintenance problems (flashfloods, sand, erosion etc.), further exposing of the other porticoes and of the courtyard is needed. For the time being we can propose a tentative reconstruction as illustrated on fig. 21.
Fig. 21: Wadi Farasa East, lower terrace. Tentative reconstruction of the Soldier Tomb’s complex (S. G. Schmid and F. Démanges)
