Aerial view of the Nabataean mansion in EZ IV under excavation| Transliterated Name | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| az Zantur | Arabic | از زانتور |
Figure 2
ez-Zantur in Google Earth
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
The area to the north and south of ez-Zantur with Swiss excavation sites EZ I, EZ III, and EZ IV. This area seems to have been residential.
The area to the north and south of ez-Zantur with Swiss excavation sites EZ I, EZ III, and EZ IV. This area seems to have been residential.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion
Fig. 2
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Fig. 2
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
Figure 3
Fig. 1
Fig. 6.35a
Fig. 6.35b
Figure 3
Fig. 1
Fig. 6.35a
Fig. 6.35b
Archaeoseismic evidence for a destructive event in the early
2nd century CE at ez‑Zantur in Petra is based on the stratigraphic
and architectural history of a large residential mansion. The
earliest phase of the structure was dated to the 20s CE based
on fragments of
Nabataean fine wares dated to 20–70/90 CE, found embedded
in the mortar below
opus sectile floors in Rooms 1, 10, and 17, "as well as in
the plaster bedding of painted wall decorations in Room 1"
(Kolb, 2002:260).
According to Kolb (2002:260–261), "earthquake-induced structural
damage led to a remodeling phase" dated to "the early decades
of the 2nd century CE". This remodeling is constrained by a
coin of King Rabbel II (r. 70–106 CE), found embedded in
plaster in Room 212 of site EZ III, providing a
terminus post quem of 103–106 CE
(Kolb, 1998:263).
Additional evidence for early 2nd century destruction comes
from a bronze workshop in Room 33, where
Grawehr (2007:399) described "a thick and seemingly undisturbed
destruction layer, sealed by the debris of the room's arched
roof". Grawehr provided a terminus post quem of 98 CE based
on coin evidence found on the floors and associated the destruction with
Schmid’s Phase 3b pottery found in the destruction level. Because no
Phase 3c fine ware was present, the destruction likely occurred
“at the end of the first or early in the second century AD”.
Further support comes from
Kolb and Keller (2002:286), who reported a moderately
severe earthquake in the late 1st or early 2nd century CE. They noted
that "lamp and glass finds from the associated FK 3546 date
homogeneously from the second century AD", and that “a thin
layer of ash” confirmed “structural repairs observed in various
places and the renewal of a number of interior decorations”.
However, the chronology of this earthquake has been significantly
challenged by a re-evaluation of the ceramic phasing at ez-Zantur.
Erickson-Gini and Tuttle (2017)
argued that the tripartite Phase 3 chronology—3a (20–80 CE), 3b (80–100 CE),
and 3c (100–150 CE)—rests on a surprisingly small amount of securely datable
material. They highlighted that the foundational chart used to establish these
phases (Schmid 2000: Abb. 420) shows no coins for either Phase 3a or
Phase 3c. Moreover, Phase 3a was notably underrepresented in the excavated
contexts, while many loci assigned to Phases 3b and 3c were mixed or lacked
clear stratigraphic isolation (ibid., 184).
This undermines the basis for confidently assigning the start and end dates
for these sub-phases—particularly the commonly cited terminal date of 100 CE
for Phase 3b. The few coins recovered from relevant contexts could date as late
as 106 CE, and the imported fine wares from these same contexts often dated to
a considerably later range. The reliance on a very limited sample of imported
fineware—mostly Eastern Sigillata A (ESA)—further weakened chronological
precision. They emphasized that forms such as
ESA Hayes 56 were present in both Phases 3b and 3c, yet this form is
known to date to 150 CE and even beyond
(Hayes 1985:39).
In light of this reassessment, Erickson-Gini and Tuttle concluded that most
of the fineware material attributed to the 1st and early 2nd centuries at
ez-Zantur should instead be assigned to the later 2nd or early 3rd
century CE. They proposed that the architectural repairs and destruction
layers previously linked to an early 2nd century earthquake may, in fact,
correspond to a later seismic event. Their critique suggests that the widely
cited early 2nd century date may be an artifact of overly rigid phasing based
on insufficient evidence, and that many features attributed to the postulated
earthquake—such as damage, remodeling, and fineware deposition—may more
accurately reflect a destructive event a number of decades later.
Figure 2
ez-Zantur in Google Earth
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
The area to the north and south of ez-Zantur with Swiss excavation sites EZ I, EZ III, and EZ IV. This area seems to have been residential.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion
Fig. 2
Fig. 11
Figure 3
Fig. 1as well as in the plaster bedding of the painted wall decorations in room 1. Earthquake induced structural damage led to a remodeling phase which was dated to
the early decades of the 2nd century CE(Kolb, 2002:260-261). A terminus post quem of 103-106 CE for the remodel was provided by a coin struck under King Rabbel II found in some rough plaster (rendering coat) in Room 212 of site EZ III (Kolb, 1998:263).
Room 33 is the work-shop proper. This is indicated by the finds that were encountered in a thick and seemingly undisturbed destruction layer, sealed by the debris of the rooms arched roof. While any indication for the cause of this destruction evades us, the dating of the event is clear. Through the evidence of the coins an the floor we arrive at a terminus post quem of 98 AD. As there is plenty of fine ware in the destruction level, belonging to Schmid's phase 3b, but none of phase 3c, which according to him starts ±100 AD, the destruction must have taken place at the end of the first or early in the second century AD.Kolb B. and Keller D. (2002:286) also discussed archeoseismic evidence at ez-Zantur
Stratigraphic excavation in square 86/AN unexpectedly brought useful data on the history of the mansion' s construction phases and destruction. The ash deposit in Abs. 2 with FK 3524 and 3533 provided clear indications as to the final destruction in 363. A further chronological "bar line" — a some-what vaguely defined construction phase 2 in various parts of the terrace in the late first or second century AD — received clear confirmation in the form of a thin layer of ash. The lamp and glass finds from the associated FK 3546 date homogeneously from the second century AD, and confirm the assumption of a moderately severe (not historically documented) earthquake that led to the structural repairs observed in various places and the renewal of a number of interior decorations.
Figure 2
ez-Zantur in Google Earth
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
The area to the north and south of ez-Zantur with Swiss excavation sites EZ I, EZ III, and EZ IV. This area seems to have been residential.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion
Fig. 2
Fig. 11
Figure 3
Fig. 1A re-examination of the Zantur fineware chronology by the writer has revealed that it contains a number of serious difficulties.25 The main difficulties in the Zantur chronology center on Phase 3, which covers most of the 1st through 3rd c. CE. Zantur Phase 3 is divided into three sub-phases: 3a (20-80 CE), 3b (80-100 CE) and 3c (100-150 CE). The dating of Phase 3 is based on a very small amount of datable material, for example, the main table showing the datable material (Schmid 2000: Abb. 420) shows that no coins were available to date either Phase 3a or Phase 3c. Moreover, the earliest sub-phase, 3a, was vastly underrepresented.26 At Zantur, there appears to be little justification for the beginning dates for either Phase 3b (80 CE) or 3c (100 CE) or their terminal dates (100 CE and 150 CE respectively). No `clean' loci, i.e., sealed contexts, were offered to prove the dating of Phases 3b and 3c and the contexts are mixed with both earlier (3b) and later (3c) material (ibid., 184). This raises the question as to why a terminal date of 100 CE was fixed for Sub-phase 3b. The coin evidence for Sub-phase 3b is scanty and some of the coins could date as late as 106 CE while there is a discrepancy between the dates of the coins and the imported wares, many of which date later than 100 or 106 CE. In order to date Phase 3 in Zantur, there was a heavy dependence an a very small quantity of imported fineware sherds, mainly ESA. Of the forms used, Hayes 56 is listed in both Phase 3b and 3c (ibid.) and since this particular form dates later than 150 CE (Hayes 1985: 39) the majority of the forms and motifs of both sub-phases 3b and 3c should be assigned to the later 2nd and early 3rd centuries. with its purported range of 60 years.
Two earthquakes are proposed for Ez Zantur during the Byzantine period.
The first, the 363 CE Cyril Quake,
is widely accepted, while the second remains debated.
Stucky (1990:270–71)
reported the discovery of two skeletons (a woman and
child) buried beneath roof and masonry collapse in Room 1 (EZ I),
alongside 65 bronze coins dated 336–361 CE. According to them,
this strongly
supports a seismic event coinciding with the
363 CE Cyril Quake.
A similar destruction layer attributed to the same
earthquake was identified in the Ez-Zantur domestic
complex by Bedal et al. (2007),
above 1st–4th century pottery deposits.
Kolb et al. (1998)
described broken columns, and charred
beam debris in Room 6 of EZ IV, which they interpreted
as earthquake damage. They also described a cracked flagstone
floor which they opine was “a witness to the violence with which the wood
hit the floor” (JW: Cracked stairs may also be due to
this same earthquake).
Kolb et al. (1998)
report that the dating evidence consists of fourth-century household items (including ceramics, glass,
and personal objects) found beneath a thick collapse layer of stucco wall and ceiling decorations and that
this destruction layer seals the occupation and confirms, along with coin evidence from a nearby room,
that the final phase of habitation ended with the
363 CE Cyril earthquake.
Kolb and Keller (2002:286)
found an ash layer in Square 86/AN sealing the final
occupation layer with datable finds pointing again to a
363 CE terminus. This includes stratigraphically
constrained lamps and glassware.
Kolb and Keller (2000:366-368) report that glass lamp
fragments from Ez Zantur provide secure chronological markers
for two key destruction phases. Early beaker-shaped glass
lamps with flaring rims and three handles were found just
above the floors in rooms 11 and 19 of EZ IV, in debris sealed
by the 363 CE earthquake. These vessels were associated with
Constantinian coins, late Roman ceramics, and early glassware,
indicating that "the destruction of the building was caused
by the earthquake of 363 AD" and that these are "among the
earliest examples of a type of lighting which became common
during Byzantine and Islamic times."
Kolb and Keller (2000:366-368) also report that fragments
with wick holders appear in upper layers of rooms
11–14 and 16 of EZ IV, and in rooms 2, 8, and 28 of EZ I, were all
associated with destruction from a second earthquake, "most
probably in
419" CE. A tubular wick holder from Room 2 at EZ I
"is unquestionably from the latest occupation... disrupted by
a second earthquake in the early fifth century." Lamps with
outfolded rims and wick holders become dominant after this
event, marking a typological shift confirmed in shops along
the Colonnaded Street, abandoned in the 5th c., and in
6th-century layers elsewhere in Petra.
Kolb and Keller (2000:366–368)
conclude that "glass lamps with outfolded rims,
three handles and wick holders were common in the Petra region
from the early fifth century onwards," with no evidence for
wick-holder lamps predating the 5th century in secure contexts.
Jones (2021),
however, disputes the final occupation and destruction
date of Bauphase Spätromisch II and challenges the
attribution to the
419 CE Monaxius and Plinta Quake presented in
Kolb (1996: 51, 89;
2000: 238, 244;
2007: 157).
Jones (2021)
suggests that the region-wide decline in 5th-century coin
circulation cannot serve as reliable post 419 CE abandonment
evidence and a single Marcianus bronze (450–457 CE) from
Room 28, dismissed by excavators as intrusive, might
rather be valid.
Jones (2021)
also notes "the presence of 25 unidentifiable small bronze coins, 15 of which could be dated to the
4th-5th century
(
Peter 1996: 98-100, nos 89-113)" and "at least some" of which "are likely to be issues
of the 5th century".
Jones (2021)
argues that al-Zantur I Spatromisch II ceramics, rather than dating from 363 CE - 419 CE,
should date to at least a century later. African Red Slip (ARS) Forms 91C
and 93B, found in Spätromisch II, are now known to date
no earlier than the mid-5th century in their Tunisian
production zones. Local wares at the site include
Aqaba amphorae (early 5th century or later),
Arched-Rim Basin Form 2 (6th–7th century), and local ARS
analogs from the 5th–6th centuries. These forms are
inconsistent with a pre-419 CE destruction layer and instead
align with late contexts such as those at the
Petra Church.
Jones (2021)
concludes that the most plausible destruction
event is the
Areopolis earthquake of c. 597 CE,
known from an inscription recording post-earthquake
repairs at al-Rabba. This, according to
Jones (2021)
fits the ceramic evidence and
matches other 6th-century destruction layers in Petra
better than earlier candidates. Jones stresses that the
363 CE destruction layer is valid, but occupation at
ez-Zantur continued into the 6th century before being
terminated by a later quake.
Figure 2
ez-Zantur in Google Earth
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
The area to the north and south of ez-Zantur with Swiss excavation sites EZ I, EZ III, and EZ IV. This area seems to have been residential.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion
Fig. 2
Fig. 11
Figure 3
Fig. 1
Room 1 with Skeletons - a woman and child
Coin hoard in situ
Fig. 10EZ IV: The Nabataean "Villa"Seismic effects from Room 6 at ez-Zantur IV (EZ IV) included broken columns, debris, and a cracked flagstone floor under 6 carbonized wood beams which Kolb et al (1998) described as
The Last Phase of Occupation
Household objects such as a basalt hand mill, two bone spoons, an alabaster pyxis and a number of unidentifiable iron objects, as well as large quantities of ceramics and glass vessels of the fourth century AD lay buried on the pavement, along walls H and K, beneath innumerable fragments of stucco from the wall and ceiling decoration (see below for the contributions of D. Keller and Y. Gerber). The datable objects confirm last year's findings from room 2, where the coins indicated that the end of the final phase of occupation came with the earthquake of 363 AD (Kolb 1997: 234).
The thick layer of mural and moulded stucco fragments on top of the household utensils of the fourth century proves beyond any doubt that the Nabataean decor remained on the walls up till the aforementioned natural catastrophe.3
a witness to the violence with which the wood hit the floor. Also found in ez-Zantur IV were cracked steps (see Fig. 10 in Figures and Photos above) which may have been seismically damaged. There were no indications from the article what lay below the steps and whether geotechnical factors could have played a role in cracking the steps. Kolb et al (1998) report that some structures at EZ IV were built directly on bedrock.
Stratigraphic excavation in square 86/AN unexpectedly brought useful data on the history of the mansion' s construction phases and destruction. The ash deposit in Abs. 2 with FK 3524 and 3533 provided clear indications as to the final destruction in 363. A further chronological "bar line" — a some-what vaguely defined construction phase 2 in various parts of the terrace in the late first or second century AD — received clear confirmation in the form of a thin layer of ash. The lamp and glass finds from the associated FK 3546 date homogeneously from the second century AD, and confirm the assumption of a moderately severe (not historically documented) earthquake that led to the structural repairs observed in various places and the renewal of a number of interior decorations.Kolb and Keller (2000:366-368) discovered some glass lamps normally dated to a later time period associated with 363 CE debris (see "Glass finds of Kolb and Keller (2000) which cast doubt on a 363 CE date" collapsible panel).
Figure 2
ez-Zantur in Google Earth
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
The area to the north and south of ez-Zantur with Swiss excavation sites EZ I, EZ III, and EZ IV. This area seems to have been residential.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion
Fig. 2
Fig. 11
Figure 3
Fig. 1Kolb (1996: 51, 89; 2000: 238, 244; 2007: 157) attributes the destruction of the final occupation phase of al-Zantur I, Spatromisch II, to the 418/419 earthquake. As with many of the sites discussed above, this attribution is based primarily on numismatic finds, which decline sharply after the 4th century. Like most other regions of the Eastern Mediterranean, however, a lack of 5th century coinage is typical for sites in southern Jordan. For example, in their discussion of coins collected (and purchased) in Faynan, Kind et al. (2005: 188) note a decline in coin frequencies after about 420 AD. While this does not rule out an earthquake, many sites that seem to lack 5th century coinage were, on close inspection, occupied during the 5th century.A much more extensive discussion of dating evidence and interpretation can be found in Jones (2021). Some of his conclusions follow:
The discussion of the coin finds at al-Zantur I also gives cause for pause. The author states,An end of the settlement of ez Zantur after the earthquake of 419 AD could be harmonized well with the coin series, if not for the discovery of a small bronze coin of Marcianus, which was minted in the years 450-457 AD, discovered in the ash layer of Room 28, in the immediate vicinity of the remains of a kitchen inventory destroyed in an earthquake. ( Peter 1996: 92, translation I. Jones)Peter goes on to point out that, as the only mid-5th century coin at the site, it may be intrusive, which would allow for an earthquake destruction of Spatromisch II in 418/419. It is worth noting, however, the presence of 25 unidentifiable small bronze coins, 15 of which could be dated to the 4th-5th century ( Peter 1996: 98-100, nos 89-113). At least some of these are likely to be issues of the 5th century.
The discussion of the ceramic assemblage follows a similar pattern. The latest imports present at Spatromisch II are African Red Slip Ware (ARS) Forms 91C and 93B, both dated by Hayes (1972: 144, 148) to the 6th century (Schneider 1996: 40). Schneider (1996: 41) argues that Hayes's (1972) dating for the southern Levant is not entirely secure, and the presence of these forms in Spatromisch II is evidence for an early 5th century appearance. At production sites in Tunisia, however, neither form appears before the mid-5th century (Mackensen and Schneider 2002: 127-30). Likewise, Form 93 does not appear in Carthage until the 5th century, and first appears at Karanis, in the Fayyum, in the '420s CE or later' (Pollard 1998: 150). It is very unlikely that these forms appeared at al-Zantur earlier than they did in North Africa.
The `local' ceramic assemblage from Spatromisch II also contains several forms that postdate 419. Of note are several `Aqaba amphorae (Fellman Brogli 1996: 255, abb. 766-67), which date no earlier than the early 5th century (Parker 2013: 741); Magness's (1993: 206) Arched-Rim Basin Form 2, dating to the 6th-7th century (Fellman Brogli 1996: 260, abb. 790); and local interpretations of late 5th-6th century ARS, e.g. Forms 84 and 99 (Fellman Brogli 1996: 263, abb. 809-10). Gerber (2001: 361-62) also notes the similarity of the Spatromisch II ceramics to those apparently from 6th century phases at the Petra Church, although these contexts are not secure enough to make this comparison definitive.
Overall, the argument that Spatromisch II was destroyed in the 418/419 earthquake is rather circular. A lack of 5th century coinage is presented as evidence of this destruction, and this in turn is used to dismiss a mid-5th century coin as intrusive. If this is accepted, an earlier date must also be accepted for the otherwise mid-5th-6th century ceramics. When considering the evidence together, however, the more parsimonious explanation is that al-Zantur I was occupied, perhaps on a small scale or even intermittently, into the 6th century, which would bring al-Zantur I into line with other sites in Petra and the broader region with 363 and (late) 6th century destruction layers (see Table 1 - below).If an earthquake did cause the destruction of Spatromisch II, the best candidate would seem to be the Areopolis earthquake of c. 597 AD. This event is known primarily from an inscription that describes repairs performed in the year 492, of the calender of the province of Arabia (597/8 AD), following an earthquake, found by Zayadine (1971) at al-Rabba (ancient Areopolis), on the Karak Plateau (see also Ambraseys 2009: 216-17). Rucker and Niemi (2010: 101-03) have argued, primarily on the basis of the continued use of the Petra Church into the last decade of the 6th century, as evidenced by the Petra Papyri, that this earthquake is a better fit for the 6th century destructions in Petra previously attributed to the earthquake of 551. Accepting c. 597 as the date of the destruction of Spatromisch II is not critical to this paper's argument, but it follows from accepting the excavators' identification of an earthquake destruction and considering the events postdating 418/419 that could plausibly have affected southern Jordan. The possible events listed in the most recent Ambraseys (2009: 179, 199-203, 216-17) catalogue are the 502 Acre earthquake, which seems to have caused little damage inland; the 551 Beirut earthquake, an attribution Ambraseys explicitly rejects due to the lack of major destruction in Jerusalem; and the c. 597 Areopolis earthquake, which is the most likely possibility if the first two are ruled out. Of course, it is not possible to rule out destruction during a later earthquake, an otherwise unknown earthquake, or due to another cause entirely. Likewise, the destruction of the building does not necessarily coincide with the end of the occupation; it is entirely possible for an earthquake to destroy a previously abandoned building. Regardless of the exact date of the destruction, the evidence discussed above indicates that occupation continued into the 6th century.
- from Jones (2021)
Table 1
List of sites in and near Petra (other than al-Zantur) with destructions attributable to earthquakes in 363 AD and the 6th century
Jones (2021)
The ceramics from al-Zantur are an important chronological anchor in the Petra region, and it has generally been accepted that those from Spatromisch II date to the narrow period between 363 and 419. Expanding the dating of this phase to the late 4th-6th century, therefore, has implications for the dating of other sites in Petra, notably the Petra Church.
A critical review of the dating evidence from al-Zantur I Spatromisch II indicates that this destruction has been misdated by at least a century. Spatromisch II was occupied at least into the 6th century, and if an earthquake was responsible for its destruction, the Areopolis earthquake of c. 597 is a more likely candidate. This returns the emergence of the Negev wheel-made lamp to the 6th century, in line with essentially every other site where it occurs. This revision also has implications for the dating of the Petra Church, which relied heavily on comparison to the material from al-Zantur, and other sites in Petra. Taken on its own, the evidence indicates that the Petra Church was built in the early 6th century, rather than the mid-5th.
| Effect | Location | Image(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support Walls | wall sections P1 and P2 between rooms 6 and 7 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
consolidation had to be undertaken to support wall sections P1 and P2 between rooms 6 and 7in EZ IV among other structural modifications. - Kolb (2002) |
|
| Broken Pottery | Room 15 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Fig. 14EZ IV, room 15. Nabatean fine ware-ensemble in situ photo: D. Keller Kolb et al (1998) |
JW: Pottery may have fallen due to seismic activity. Kolb et al (1998) did not speculate that this pottery find was due to seismic activity |
|
Room 33 at the bronze workshop in EZ I
Fig. 1 Northern edge of the terrace EZ I and the slope north of it with the bronze workshop. Schematic plan with building phases and room numbers indicated. Isometric reconstructions of the building in its two phases drawings M. Grawehr Grawehr (2007) |
a thick and seemingly undisturbed destruction layer, sealed by the debris of the room's [Room 33] arched roofat the bronze workshop in EZ I - Grawehr (2007:399) |
|
|
various places | a moderately severe (not historically documented) earthquake that led to the structural repairs observed in various places and the renewal of a number of interior decorations- Kolb and Keller (2002:286) |
| Effect | Location | Image(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collapsed Roof and Walls | Room 1 of EZ I
Figure 3 General plan of the area excavation. Nabataean Masonry ridges rasterized. Stucky (1990) |
Room 1 with Skeletons - a woman and child
Stucky (1990) |
Stucky (1990:270-271) reports a collapsed roof and masonry atop two skeletons in Room 1 of EZ I |
| Cracked Steps | Corridor 2 and steps leading up to room 5 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Fig. 10 EZ IV. Corridor 2 and steps leading up to room 5 (photo: D. Keller). Kolb et al (1998) |
JW: Steps appear to have cracked due to seismic activity or differential subsidence. Kolb et al (1998) did not speculate that the cracked steps may be due to seismic activity. |
| Broken Columns | Room 6 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
Kolb et al (1998) reports broken columns in Room 6 of EZ IV | |
| Debris | Room 6 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
Kolb et al (1998) reports debris in Room 6 of EZ IV | |
| Cracked Floor | Room 6 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
Kolb et al (1998) reports a cracked flagstone floor under 6 carbonized wood beams in Room 6 of EZ IV | |
| Warped Walls | Room 14 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
The findings on the pavement indicate that the tubuli were broken out of wall AF by the tremors during the earthquake of 363 and thrown together on the floor with fragmented wall-decorationin Room 14 at EZ IV - Kolb and Keller (2000:362) |
|
|
northern and southern cellars (86-87/AP-AQ) of Room 17 as well as cracked stones in Room 7 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Kolb and Keller (2001:317-318) reported the presence of rubble due to what they purport to be the 363 CE earthquake in the northern and southern cellars (86-87/AP-AQ) of Room 17 as well as cracked stones in Room 7 in EZ IV. | |
|
Room 19 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
collapsing architectural members damaged the sandstone flagging mainly in the central and north-western sections of the pavementin Room 19 at EZ IV. ... A considerable deposit of earthquake debris covers a ca. 20-30 cm thick layer consisting of fragmented stucco decoration from the walls and columns. The latter context simultaneously seals the stratum of the last phase of occupation- Kolb and Keller (2000:358) |
|
| Destroyed Wall | Wall B in Room 37 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
extensive destruction of Wall B [in Room 37 of EZ IV] in the earthquake of 363- Kolb and Keller (2002:284) |
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| Collapsed Walls - courses intact | Northern outer wall (PQ 90-91/AK) of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Figure 3EZ IV Main entrance, Courtyard 28 and collapsed facade seen from the northwest (photo D. Keller) Kolb and Keller (2001) |
Kolb and Keller (2001:312) reports that
the northern outer wall (PQ 90-91/AK), unlike the western and southern outer walls H and I, was largely destroyed during the earthquake of AD 363 |
| Structural Damage | Squares 88/AL-AM of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
it is impossible to reconstruct the original layout of the rooms in the eastern wing for the structures [Squares 88/AL-AM at EZ IV] had obviously been badly affected by the tremors of the earthquake of 363- Kolb and Keller (2000:364) |
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| Debris | EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Due to the sudden destruction of the house on EZ IV during the earthquake of AD 363, excellent archaeological contexts are preserved as the debris of the collapsed walls sealed the finds underneath them.- Kolb and Keller (2002:290) |
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| Destruction layer | Pool Complex | Bedal et al. (2007) reports a destruction layer composed of architectural elements of the pool complex of Ez-Zantur | |
| Debris | ? | The thick layer of mural and moulded stucco fragments on top of the household utensils of the fourth century proves beyond any doubt that the Nabataean decor remained on the walls up till the aforementioned natural catastrophe [363 CE]- Kolb et al (1998) |
Deformation Map
Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)| Effect | Location | Image(s) | Description | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Walls (suggesting that original walls were displaced) | wall sections P1 and P2 between rooms 6 and 7 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
consolidation had to be undertaken to support wall sections P1 and P2 between rooms 6 and 7in EZ IV among other structural modifications. - Kolb (2002) |
VII+ | |
| Broken Pottery | Room 15 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Fig. 14 EZ IV, room 15. Nabatean fine ware-ensemble in situ photo: D. Keller Kolb et al (1998) |
JW: Pottery may have fallen due to seismic activity. Kolb et al (1998) did not speculate that this pottery find was due to seismic activity | VII+ |
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Room 33 at the bronze workshop in EZ I
Fig. 1 Northern edge of the terrace EZ I and the slope north of it with the bronze workshop. Schematic plan with building phases and room numbers indicated. Isometric reconstructions of the building in its two phases drawings M. Grawehr Grawehr (2007) |
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various places | a moderately severe (not historically documented) earthquake that led to the structural repairs observed in various places and the renewal of a number of interior decorations- Kolb and Keller, 2002:286 |
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Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)| Effect | Location | Image(s) | Description | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collapsed Roof and Walls | Room 1 of EZ I
Figure 3 General plan of the area excavation. Nabataean Masonry ridges rasterized. Stucky (1990) |
Room 1 with Skeletons - a woman and child
Stucky (1990) |
Stucky (1990:270-271) reports a collapsed roof and masonry atop two skeletons in Room 1 of EZ I | VIII+ |
| Cracked Steps | Corridor 2 and steps leading up to room 5 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Fig. 10 EZ IV. Corridor 2 and steps leading up to room 5 (photo: D. Keller). Kolb et al (1998) |
JW: Steps appear to have cracked due to seismic activity or differential subsidence. Kolb et al (1998) did not speculate that the cracked steps may be due to seismic activity. | ? |
| Broken Columns | Room 6 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
Kolb et al (1998) reports broken columns in Room 6 of EZ IV | VIII+ | |
| Debris | Room 6 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
Kolb et al (1998) reports debris in Room 6 of EZ IV | ? | |
| Cracked Floor | Room 6 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) EZ IV Plan closeup
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.JW: closeup on rooms 6 and 7 - P sections in middle of the two rooms Kolb (2002) |
Kolb et al (1998) reports a cracked flagstone floor under 6 carbonized wood beams in Room 6 of EZ IV | ? | |
| Warped Walls | Room 14 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
The findings on the pavement indicate that the tubuli were broken out of wall AF by the tremors during the earthquake of 363 and thrown together on the floor with fragmented wall-decorationin Room 14 at EZ IV - Kolb and Keller (2000:362) |
VII+ | |
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northern and southern cellars (86-87/AP-AQ) of Room 17 as well as cracked stones in Room 7 in EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Kolb and Keller (2001:317-318) reported the presence of rubble due to what they purport to be the 363 CE earthquake in the northern and southern cellars (86-87/AP-AQ) of Room 17 as well as cracked stones in Room 7 in EZ IV. |
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Room 19 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
collapsing architectural members damaged the sandstone flagging mainly in the central and north-western sections of the pavementin Room 19 at EZ IV. ... A considerable deposit of earthquake debris covers a ca. 20-30 cm thick layer consisting of fragmented stucco decoration from the walls and columns. The latter context simultaneously seals the stratum of the last phase of occupation- Kolb and Keller (2000:358) |
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| Destroyed Wall (collapsed wall) | Wall B in Room 37 of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
extensive destruction of Wall B [in Room 37 of EZ IV] in the earthquake of 363- Kolb and Keller (2002:284) |
VIII+ | |
| Collapsed Walls - courses intact | Northern outer wall (PQ 90-91/AK) of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Figure 3 EZ IV Main entrance, Courtyard 28 and collapsed facade seen from the northwest (photo D. Keller) Kolb and Keller (2001) |
Kolb and Keller (2001:312) reports that
the northern outer wall (PQ 90-91/AK), unlike the western and southern outer walls H and I, was largely destroyed during the earthquake of AD 363 |
VIII+ |
| Structural Damage (displaced walls ?) | Squares 88/AL-AM of EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
it is impossible to reconstruct the original layout of the rooms in the eastern wing for the structures [Squares 88/AL-AM at EZ IV] had obviously been badly affected by the tremors of the earthquake of 363- Kolb and Keller (2000:364) |
VII+ | |
| Debris from collapsed walls | EZ IV EZ IV Plan
EZ IV. Schematic plan of the Nabataean mansion showing the structure's three main functional areas: the servants quarters, the public area and the private residence.
Kolb (2002) |
Due to the sudden destruction of the house on EZ IV during the earthquake of AD 363, excellent archaeological contexts are preserved as the debris of the collapsed walls sealed the finds underneath them.- Kolb and Keller (2002:290) |
VIII+ | |
| Destruction layer (collapsed walls) | Pool Complex | Bedal et al. (2007) reports a destruction layer composed of architectural elements of the pool complex of Ez-Zantur | VIII+ | |
| Debris (from collapsed walls) | ? | The thick layer of mural and moulded stucco fragments on top of the household utensils of the fourth century proves beyond any doubt that the Nabataean decor remained on the walls up till the aforementioned natural catastrophe [363 CE]- Kolb et al (1998) |
VIII+ |