• from Erickson-Gini (2011)

The site is located along the northern cliff of the Ramon Crater, above the ancient of pass of Ma‘ale Mahmal (Naqb el-Mahamla; Fig. 1), which was part of the ancient Petra–Gaza road (the Incense Road) established by the Nabataeans in the early first century CE. It was later taken over by the Romans in 106 CE with the annexation of the Nabataean kingdom. A small fort (6.5 × 7.0 m; Fig. 2) overlooking the pass (Ma‘ale Mahmal) was discovered at the site by Kirk in 1937 (Kirk G.E. 1938. Exploration in the Southern Desert. PEQ 70:211–235).

• from Rudolf Cohen in Stern et. al. (1993 v.3)

The site at the top ofMa'ale Mal).mal (map reference 1431.9111), on the edge of the northern cliff of Makhtesh Ramon, was first surveyed in 1937 by G. E. Kirk, who was also the first to examine Ma'ale Mal).mal. In 1960, it was surveyed by B. Rothenberg and M. Gichon. In 1965, a trial excavation was carried out here by Z. Meshel, Y. Tsafrir, and R. Cohen, in the course of a survey of the road from Sha 'ar Ramon to 'Avdat (Oboda). The excavation was completed by Cohen in 1982. The almost square fort (7 by 6.5 m) was divided into two parallel halls (each c. 5.6 by 2.6m); each was preserved to a height of some 1.8 m. A staircase in the southern part of the western hall led to the upper story. The one-meter-wide entrance to the fort was pierced in the center of the western wall. Parts of the arch that originally spanned the entrance were found in the debris. Two floors were identified, with a fill 0.3 m deep in between. On the earlier floor a few isolated sherds, probably dating to the first century CE, were found. The finds on the upper floor were typical of the third to fourth centuries CE: an oil lamp, a small bowl, a late Nabatean painted bowl, a flask, and two coins from the third century issued under the emperor Gallienus (260-268).

• from Erickson-Gini (2011)

A recent analysis of the pottery and coins from the fort by the writer indicated that the fort was built in the Late Roman period, in the later part of the second century CE (Severan period) and was occupied until the early third century CE. It was subsequently reoccupied in the Early Byzantine period, with the construction of the army camp at nearby Oboda under Diocletian and the reoccupation of Sha‘ar Ramon in that period (Erickson-Gini T. 2007. The Nabataean Roman Negev in the Third Century CE. In S.A. Lewin and P. Pellegrini, eds. The Late Roman Army in the Near East from Diocletian to the Arab Conquest [BAR Int. Ser. 1717]. Oxford. Pp. 91–100).

... earlier remains appear to belong to an Early Roman Nabataean caravan station destroyed in the early second century CE by an earthquake.

Plans and Photos

Discussion

Erickson-Gini (2011) excavated 6 meters west of the fort and found remains which appear to belong to an Early Roman Nabataean caravan station destroyed in the early second century CE by an earthquake. They described what they found as follows:

Pottery found in the excavation of the building shows that it was founded in the mid-first century CE and continued to be used until sometime in the early second century CE, when it was evidently destroyed in an earthquake (Fig. 7). Wall 1 appears to have collapsed northward (Fig. 8) and the remains of a cooking pot (Fig. 10:8) in L601, next to the tabun (F-1), had broke and was partially spread eastward next to the interior of W1. Tabun F-1 contained small rocks and a number of potsherds, including an early type of a Gaza wine jar (Fig. 10:11) that is dated to the first–third centuries CE. Other diagnostic potsherds included parts of Nabataean painted ware bowls (Fig. 9:1–8), an Eastern Sigilatta ware bowl (Fig. 10:1), undecorated cups and bowls (Fig. 10:2–5, 7), Nabataean rouletted ware (Fig. 10:6), Nabataean cooking pot (Fig. 10:9), Roman carinated cooking pot (Fig. 10:10), jars (Fig. 10:12, 13), Nabataean strainer jugs (Fig. 10:14, 15) and a fragment of a Roman lamp with a decorated discus (Fig. 10:16).

Visual investigation of the area north of the early structure shows traces of possible wall lines and other rooms. However, no plan of this structure can be determined without carrying out further excavations. It may be assumed, on the basis of the 2004 excavation, that rooms were situated around an open courtyard. The structure was badly damaged by an earthquake and appears to have been stripped of masonry stones nearly to its foundation.

... In addition to excavations in the early building, the exterior sides of the Roman fort along the eastern, northern and part of the western side, were excavated to facilitate restoration work on the structure (L101/L102, L103, L201 and L801). A deep probe along the northeastern corner of the structure (L103) was excavated down to bedrock. In the foundation trench near bedrock a diagnostic fragment of a Late Roman-Nabataean debased painted ware bowl (Fig. 9:9) was found. The structure showed signs of earthquake damage along its northern wall (L201) and the center of this wall had collapsed northward. A section of collapse at this point of the wall was preserved and left unexcavated.

The current excavation confirmed the discovery that the Mezad Mahmal fort is a Roman and not a Nabataean fort, as has generally been assumed. The fort was constructed in the later half of the second century CE in the Late Roman period. It appears to belong to a Roman military initiative of constructing tower forts in the Severan period elsewhere along the Petra–Gaza road, such as the fort of Horbat Qazra and Mezad Neqarot. Other forts of this type and period are known at Horbat Haluqim (‘Atiqot 11 [ES]:34–50) and Horbat Dafit (ESI 3:16–17). The primary discovery in this season was the remains of the Nabataean caravan station of the first century CE, situated at the head of the pass. This structure, which apparently contained a number of rooms located around a central courtyard, was destroyed in a seismic event in the early second century CE and subsequently, was probably abandoned.

Effect(s)	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Walls	Figure 3 Plan Erickson-Gini (2011)	Figure 8 Collapse of Wall 1 in the courtyard, looking west. Erickson-Gini (2011)	Wall 1 appears to have collapsed northward (Fig. 8) - Erickson-Gini (2011) The structure was badly damaged by an earthquake and appears to have been stripped of masonry stones nearly to its foundation. - Erickson-Gini (2011) The structure showed signs of earthquake damage along its northern wall (L201) and the center of this wall had collapsed northward. - Erickson-Gini (2011)
Broken Pottery	L601 Figure 3 Plan Erickson-Gini (2011)	Figure 6 Tabun F-1, looking west Erickson-Gini (2011)	the remains of a cooking pot (Fig. 10:8) in L601, next to the tabun (F-1), had broke and was partially spread eastward - Erickson-Gini (2011)
Broken Pottery	L402 Figure 3 Plan Erickson-Gini (2011)	Figure 7 Jar in collapse in the corner of L402, looking northwest. Erickson-Gini (2011)	Jar in collapse in the corner of L402, looking northwest - Erickson-Gini (2011)

• Modified by JW from Fig. 3 of Erickson-Gini (2011)

• Earthquake Archeological Effects chart
  Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)
  
  Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)
  of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect(s)	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Walls	Figure 3 Plan Erickson-Gini (2011)	Figure 8 Collapse of Wall 1 in the courtyard, looking west. Erickson-Gini (2011)	Wall 1 appears to have collapsed northward (Fig. 8) - Erickson-Gini (2011) The structure was badly damaged by an earthquake and appears to have been stripped of masonry stones nearly to its foundation. - Erickson-Gini (2011) The structure showed signs of earthquake damage along its northern wall (L201) and the center of this wall had collapsed northward. - Erickson-Gini (2011)	VIII+
Broken Pottery	L601 Figure 3 Plan Erickson-Gini (2011)	Figure 6 Tabun F-1, looking west Erickson-Gini (2011)	the remains of a cooking pot (Fig. 10:8) in L601, next to the tabun (F-1), had broke and was partially spread eastward - Erickson-Gini (2011)	VII+
Broken Pottery	L402 Figure 3 Plan Erickson-Gini (2011)	Figure 7 Jar in collapse in the corner of L402, looking northwest. Erickson-Gini (2011)	Jar in collapse in the corner of L402, looking northwest - Erickson-Gini (2011)	VII+

The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).