In order to continue the cleaning of the important surface of the courtyard, a 5m² square adjacent to the one excavated in 2001 Schmid 2002A. was opened. Here too, the floor slabs themselves were missing but their foundation layer consisting of smaller fragments of slabs and stones filled with samaga – clay containing earth – was discovered (fig. 7).
Fig. 7: Sounding in the courtyard with foundations for floor slabs (photo: S. G. Schmid)
Within the samaga, a substantial amount of Nabataean pottery was found, including several fragments of at least three painted cups (figs. 8. 9). All of the pottery belongs to phase 3a of Nabataean pottery according to Schmid 2000. , dating from AD 20 to AD 70/80 and, therefore, confirming the terminus ad or post quem for the construction of the complex we had from previous comparable soundings.
Fig. 8: Samaga with pottery (photo: S. G. Schmid)Fig. 9: Nabataean painted pottery from samaga in courtyard (photo: S. G. Schmid)
