Petra Garden and Pool Complex (left) and the Great Temple (right) Figure 3

The Petra Garden and Pool Complex (left) and the Great Temple (right), 2004 (photo by S. Karz Reid).

Bedal et al (2007)


Names

Transliterated Name Source Name
Pool Complex
Lower Market
Introduction

Excavations performed in the summer of 1998 of the "Lower Market" revealed a Monumental Pool Complex and possible evidence of seismic destruction ( Bedal, 2003).

Maps and Plans
Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

Chronology
Phasing from Bedal et al (2007)

Phase Date Comments
I Nabataean, 1st century BCE Pre-garden occupation
II Nabataean, end of the 1st century BCE - early 1st century CE Monumental garden and pool complex
III Roman, early 2nd century CE Renovations
IV Roman, late 2nd?-3rd century CE Abandonment
V Late Roman, 363 CE Destruction
VI Late Roman-Byzantine, 4th-5th century CE Squatter Farmers
VII Byzantine, 6th century CE? Destruction
VIII Post Classical/Medieval Agricultural activity
IX Bedouin, >20th century Modern occupation

Pre Phase III Earthquake - early 2nd century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

Renovations during Phase III dated to the early 2nd century CE may have been a response to seismic damage most of which may have been cleared by renovations. The re-use of building elements may be reflective of this response. It should be noted that these building elements could have come from another structure - for example the nearby Great Temple where Joukowsky and Basile (2001:50) report an early 2nd century CE earthquake in Phase VI.

Bedal (2003:74) estimated an early 2nd century CE terminus post quem for the start of Phase III based on pottery found associated with various structures that were part of the renovations.
According to the refined pottery sequence from ez-Zantur, the type 3c Nabataean painted ware was produced in a brief span of time, between ca.100 and 106/114 CE. Based on this pottery evidence, it is possible to assign the floor bedding and by direct association the bridge with a terminus post quem of the early 2nd century CE.
...
However, a single rim sherd also found embedded in the floor mortar (Fig. 18) may be more closely identified with a type 4 painted bowl from ez-Zantur, dated post-106/114 CE (Schmid 1996:166, 208, abb. 704), in which case the Phase II renovations in the Pool-Complex must be dated to a period following the annexation of Petra into the Roman Empire.

Phase V Earthquake - 4th century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

Bedal et al (2007) report seismic destruction in Phase V as follows:
The architectural elements of the pool complex suffered serious damage in the mid-4th century AD, most likely a result of the well-documented earthquake of 363 AD. The upper courses of the pavilion walls collapsed into the pool, forming a dense layer of large stone rubble in a reddish-brown sandy matrix overlying the Phase IV fill (trench 1) (Fig. 24 ). In the south-west corner, stones falling from the South Wall and the Great Temple's East Perimeter Wall formed a similar destruction layer (Fig. 23 ).
Bedal (2003:79) entertained the less likely possibility that the observed destruction was due to decay rather than seismic forces.
While it is possible that this destruction resulted from neglect and structural decay over a long period of time, it more likely that the island-pavilion fell victim to the major earthquake of 363 CE that caused irreparable damage to many of the major monuments at Petra and destruction throughout the region (Russell 1980; 1985:42; Amiran et al. 1994:265). 74
Bedal (2003:79) dated Phase V seismic destruction to the 4th century CE unlike Bedal et al (2007) who dated it to the mid 4th century CE.

Phase VII Earthquake - 6th century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

Bedal et al (2007) report seismic destruction in Phase VII as follows:
A stratum of large stone debris in a reddish-brown sandy matrix overlying the Phase VI fill in the southern half of the site (trench 1, 3, 4 5, 9, 11, 12, and 14) marks a second major destruction episode causing the further collapse of the walls surrounding the pool complex and the island-pavilion (Fig. 24 ). Elements of the pavilion's architectural decor (marble flower, volutes, capital fragments and painted stucco) and its construction (iron nails, a plaster nail anchor, and charred wood) mark further disintegration of this structure.
Bedal (2003:83) discussed this potential seismic destruction in a similar manner in a passage which is less certain that the debris from this phase was a result of seismic destruction.
It is clear from the presence of architectural debris in this stratum - large architectural elements (ashlars, doorjambs, etc.), small capital fragments, volutes (Pl. XVIIIa), and a unique flower (carved from limestone or a low-grade marble) (Fig. 12 and Pl. XVIIIb), iron nails, a plaster nail anchor, and some charred wood - that the structure continued to disintegrate following its major destruction as a result of the 363 earthquake. At this time, there is no evidence to specifically link this secondary collapse with the 551 earthquake, although that cannot be ruled out.

Seismic Effects
Pre Phase III Earthquake - early 2nd century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

  • re-use of building elements1
Footnotes

1 It should be noted that these building elements could have come from another structure - for example the nearby Great Temple where Joukowsky and Basile (2001:50) report an early 2nd century CE earthquake in Phase VI.

Phase V Earthquake - 4th century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

  • The upper courses of the pavilion walls collapsed into the pool, forming a dense layer of large stone rubble in a reddish-brown sandy matrix overlying the Phase IV fill (trench 1) (Fig. 24 ). (Bedal et al, 2007)
  • In the south-west corner, stones falling from the South Wall and the Great Temple's East Perimeter Wall formed
    a similar destruction layer (Fig. 23 ).
    (Bedal et al, 2007)

Phase VII Earthquake - 6th century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Map showing location of Petra Pool Complex from Jones (2021)
  • Site Plan of Petra Pool Complex from Bedal et al (2007)

  • further collapse of the walls surrounding the pool complex and the island-pavilion (Fig. 24 ). (Bedal et al, 2007)
  • Elements of the pavilion's architectural decor (marble flower, volutes, capital fragments and painted stucco) and its construction (iron nails, a plaster nail anchor, and charred wood) mark further disintegration of this structure. (Bedal et al, 2007)

Intensity Estimates
Pre Phase III Earthquake - 2nd century CE

Effect Description Intensity
Displaced masonry blocks in drums in columns1
Footnotes

1 It should be noted that these building elements could have come from another structure - for example the nearby Great Temple where Joukowsky and Basile (2001:50) report an early 2nd century CE earthquake in Phase VI.

VIII+
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).

Phase V Earthquake - 4th century CE

Effect Description Intensity
Collapsed Walls The upper courses of the pavilion walls collapsed into the pool, forming a dense layer of large stone rubble in a reddish-brown sandy matrix overlying the Phase IV fill (trench 1) (Fig. 24 ). (Bedal et al, 2007) VIII+
Collapsed Walls In the south-west corner, stones falling from the South Wall and the Great Temple's East Perimeter Wall formed a similar destruction layer (Fig. 23 ). (Bedal et al, 2007) VIII+
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).

Phase VII Earthquake - 6th century CE

Effect Description Intensity
Collapsed Walls further collapse of the walls surrounding the pool complex and the island-pavilion (Fig. 24 ). (Bedal et al, 2007) VIII+
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).

Notes and Further Reading
References