A trench measuring 5 m x 5 m was opened in the northern portico adjacent to room 2 (figs. 5. 6; 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 accumulated directly on the foundations of the slabs, this means that the slabs already had been robbed out when the columns collapsed.
Fig. 5: Wadi Farasa East, northern portico adjacent to room 2 before excavation (photo: S. G. Schmid)
Following the results of our 2004 campaign, some additional reflections as for the roofing construction of the portico can be added. In 2004, the upper part of column including a capital and the following stone were found aligned most probably like the earthquake that destroyed the entire complex of the Soldier’s Tomb had them fallen down. The stone above the capital turned out to be the starting point for a double arch of unequal width (or height) on both sides. The finding situation strongly suggests that these parts once belonged to one of the central columns flanking the main entrance into the porticoes from room 1 (cf. fig. 1 for location). As we discussed in last year’s preliminary report, it was not immediately clear whether the arches indicate a kind of a arcade, i. e. one single row of columns supporting arches, or whether we have to reckon a second colonnade. Further reflections are now likely to clarify this point. First of all, a double portico covered by arches would create a quite important technical problem at the point were the pressure of the second arch meets the second colonnade that would be likely to collapse, since there would be no counterpart.
Fig. 6: Wadi Farasa East, Northern Portico adjacent to room 2 during excavation, with fallen column (photo: S. G. Schmid)Fig. 7: Wadi Farasa East, rock carvings for half column, beginning of arch and roof drums of northern portico (photo: S. G. Schmid)
The positive evidence for a reconstruction with one portico in the shape of an arcade is offered by the rock cuttings for the first half column of the northern portico, and, therefore, the same structure that we discussed already in the reports of our survey season and of our first field season Cf. Schmid 2000; Schmid 2001. and still the same structure that led the „Deutsch-Türkische Denkmalschutzkommando“ in 1916 to the first reconstruction of the complex Bachmann – Watzinger – Wiegand 1921. . As a matter of fact, the carving for the roof of the portico (fig. 7, top) is located more than one meter above the top level of the capital. On the one hand, this situation is difficult to explain in the case of a flat covered roof. On the other hand, immediately above the capital, the beginning of a curbed carving is clearly visible. In other words, this must be the beginning of the first arch that was directly set into the rock carvings for the half column and, therefore, the pressure was not creating any problems.
