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Khirbet al-Khalde

Figure 2

The site from the north.

(Photo courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project)

Harvey et al. (2024d)


Names

Transliterated Name Source Name
Khirbet al-Khalde Arabic
Introduction
Introduction

This site, located 26 km to the northwest of Aqaba in the Wadi al-Yutm, had previously been the subject of only limited exploration by travelers and archaeologists.

The most prominent features at the site are two rectangular structures (Figs. 1 and 2), the largest of which is a castellum with four corner towers and a gate along its northeastern long side. Its interior is divided into two courtyards, with rooms built against the perimeter walls and a cistern placed at the center of the larger courtyard. The smaller structure to the southwest of the castellum has often been described as a caravanserai in modern literature, although no hard evidence has yet proven this hypothesis conclusively. This presumed caravanserai was accessible through an opening from the northeast, had a single courtyard, and, like the castellum, included rooms built against its perimeter walls. Other visible remains at the site include an aqueduct, a burial ground, two watchtowers, and two rock-cut cisterns.

... The pottery and glass retrieved from Khirbet al-Khalde are currently being studied but appear to confirm an occupation of the site spanning from the Nabataean to the Late Byzantine period as suggested by S. T. Parker, although tentatively later finds were also collected. This chronology is corroborated by the existence of ashlar blocks dressed in a Nabataean fashion within the castellum, coins, and an inscription. A few potsherds also suggest possible Iron Age and Middle Islamic activity.

The site has been heavily damaged in modern times. The construction of a branch of the Hejaz railway from Ma‘an to Aqaba destroyed the northern tower of the castellum, and a transmission line with a service road damaged a section of the aqueduct (Harvey et al. 2024b). The construction of the service roads increased accessibility to the site and, by extension, looting activities. Concentrations of looting pits are prevalent in and around the castellum, the presumed caravanserai, and the cemetery. Evidence for looting was found as far as the spring at the head of the site’s aqueduct, suggesting this is a widespread phenomenon at Khirbet al-Khalde.

Maps, Aerial Views, Plans, and Photos
Maps, Aerial Views, Plans, and Photos

Maps

  • Fig. 1 Map of region,
    Figure 1

    Map of region, showing location of site

    (Image courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project)

    Harvey et al. (2024a)
    showing location of site from Harvey et al. (2024a)

Aerial Views

  • Fig. 2 Aerial View of
    Figure 2

    The site from the north.

    (Photo courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project)

    Harvey et al. (2024d)
    the site from Harvey et al. (2024d)
  • Fig. 2 Composite image
    Figure 4

    Composite image of Roman fort and presumed caravanserai

    figure by Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project

    Harvey et al. (2024a)
    of Roman fort and presumed caravanserai from Harvey et al. (2024a)
  • Fig. 2 Drone photo of
    Figure 2

    Drone photo of the supposed caravanserai structure.

    (Courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project.)

    Harvey et al. (2024b)
    the supposed caravanserai structure from Harvey et al. (2024b)
  • Fig. 3 Drone photo of
    Figure 3

    Drone photo of the fort structure facing southwest.

    (Courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project.)

    Harvey et al. (2024b)
    the fort structure from Harvey et al. (2024b)
  • Khirbet al-Khalde in Google Earth
    Khirbet al-Khalde

    click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth

Plans

Site Plans

Normal Size

  • Fig. 1 Site Plan
    Figure 1

    Plan of the site with main features

    (Image courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project)

    Harvey et al. (2024d)
    from Harvey et al. (2024d)

Magnified

  • Fig. 1 Site Plan
    Figure 1

    Plan of the site with main features

    (Image courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project)

    Harvey et al. (2024d)
    from Harvey et al. (2024d)

Photos

  • Fig. 24 Photograph of a
    Figure 24

    Photograph of a section of aqueduct showing undercutting of mortared bedding due to natural erosion.

    (Courtesy of the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project.)

    Harvey et al. (2024b)
    section of aqueduct showing undercutting of mortared bedding due to natural erosion from Harvey et al. (2024b)

Chronology
Chronological Divisions

Notes and Further Reading
References

Articles and Books

Harvey, C. A., Intagliata, E. E., and Raja, R. (2024a) Implementation of a multi-scalar approach to the survey of military and trade architecture in Jordan: the case of Khirbet al-Khalde, Antiquity 2024, 1–7.

Harvey, C. A., Intagliata, E. E., Mokránová, K., Raja, R., and Zoppi, M. (2024b) Cultural heritage damage assessment at Khirbet al-Khalde in a longue durée perspective: the impact of legacy data and multi-scalar methodologies on survey results, Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies 12 (2), 172–195.

Harvey, C. A., Intagliata, E. E., and Raja, R. (2024c) Global trade and mobility in the Desert. New investigations at the fort and presumed caravanserai of Khirbet al-Khalde in the southern Jordanian Desert, Current World Archaeology 123, 28–35.

Harvey, C. A., Intagliata, E. E., and Raja, R. (2024d) Khirbet al-Khalde — A Road Station in the Wadi al-Yutm, Archaeology in Jordan 4, 173–175.

Surveying Khirbet al-Khalde: Global trade and ancient mobility in southern Jordan, World Archaeology website, 24 January 2024 – open access; extensive photographic documentation

Craig A. Harvey, Emanuele E. Intagliata, Rubina Raja (2024e) Éclairages nouveaux sur le site archéologique de Khirbet al-Khalde (l’ancien Praesidium): un castellum et caravansérail situé le long de la frontière de l’Empire romain en Arabie. In Classical Association of Canada 2024 Annual Conference (Quebec City, Canada, 14–16/05/2024).

Craig A. Harvey, Emanuele E. Intagliata, Rubina Raja, Mara Zoppi (2024f) Khirbet al-Khalde e Archeobenessere. Un’occasione mancata? In Archeobenessere – spunti di riflessione dagli scavi e ricerche condotte dall’ Università degli Studi di Milano (Milano, Fondazione Luigi Rovati, 10/04/2024).

Craig A. Harvey, Emanuele E. Intagliata, Rubina Raja (2023) Introducing the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project: Initial Results from the Inaugural 2023 Survey Season. In Annual Meeting of the American Society of Oriental Research, session 5B: Archaeology of Jordan I – Excavation Reports (Chicago, Hilton Chicago, 17/11/2023).

Websites

Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project website – Aarhus University

The Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project website – Università degli Studi di Milano

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