The International North-Eastern Petra Project

Preliminary Report on the 2013 Season

by Stephan G. Schmid, Zbigniew T. Fiema and Bernhard Kolb

III. 2013 survey season – other structures and finds

While the work on plotting and interpreting the measured walls and structures is still in progress, it is worth to note the presence of other, smaller and good-defined structures. One will mention a small but well defined castellum divisorum in the south-central part of the area. Furthermore, for example, in the western area, located to the South of Structure 1, there is a complex of water basins and channels located on different levels. Water probably cascaded down from the upper to the lower one (fig. 12), similar to the installations we reported in relation with Structure 5 (above). A large complex of walls and rooms is located in the area directly south of Structure 5, including a monumental entrance area featuring a dystyle outlay (fig. 13). That complex features a number of secondary walls, some with reused architectural elements, which probably date to the later phases of occupation in the NEPP area.

Fig. 12: Water installations South of Structure 1 (photo: S. G. Schmid)

Fig. 13: Monumental entrance area with dystyle construction, South of Structure 5 (photo: S. G. Schmid)

Altogether, 400 architectural blocks were located and measured in spaces between large structures. The blocks range from numerous door-jambs, through column drums bases and capitals, including blocked-out Nabataean types and highly decorated Attic-Ionic types, pilaster bases and capitals, to the elements of entablature (such as cornices) and including a spectacular large fragment of a pediment (fig. 14). This block initially must have belonged to a built façade, quite similar to the nearby Palace Tomb, although on a smaller scale. Additionally, a small limestone base featuring a small Nabataean inscription was discovered (figs. 15. 16).

Fig. 14: Fragment of a pediment, sandstone (photo: S. G. Schmid)

Two joining fragments of a base with a Nabataean inscription (figs. 15. 16)

Internal number: N206
Two joining fragments of a moulded base made of limestone with shell inclusions, showing with a Nabataean inscription
preserved length: 40,3 cm
preserved height: 13,7 cm
preserved depth: 18,7 cm
height of letters: 3,0 cm

Fig. 15: Fragment of a Nabataean inscription on a moulded base, limestone with shell inclusions (photo: S. G. Schmid)

Fig. 16: Detail of fig. 15 (photo: S. G. Schmid)