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Tall Zira'a

Tall Zira'a Fig. 1.28

Tall Zirā‘a. View from north to south. Overview with the Areas I, II and III. Photograph taken in 2011 (Source: BAI/GPIA).

Vieweger and Häser (2017)


Names
Transliterated Name Language Name
Tall Zira'a Arabic تالل زيرا'ا
Introduction
Introduction

Tall Zirā‘a, located in the middle of the Wādī al-‘Arab and ~4.5 km. SW of Ancient Gadara, was continuously occupied for at least 5,000 years (Vieweger and Haser, 2017).

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

Maps and Aerial Views

  • Fig. 0.3 - Location Map from
    Figure 0.3

    Tall Zirā‘a and its geographic location

    (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    Vieweger and Häser (2017:28)
  • Tall Zira'a in Google Earth
    Tall Zira'a

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

Plans

Normal Size

  • Fig. 1.32 - Site plan from
    Figure 1.32

    General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    Vieweger and Häser (2017:28)
  • Fig. 4.4 - Area I with
    Figure 4.4

    Area I and its excavation squares (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    excavation squares from Vieweger and Häser (2017)
  • Fig. 4.5 - Area II with
    Figure 4.5

    Area II with its excavation squares (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    excavation squares from Vieweger and Häser (2017)
  • Fig. 4.6 - Area III with
    Figure 4.6

    Area III with its excavation squares (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    excavation squares from Vieweger and Häser (2017)
  • Fig. 2.111 - Survey Squares
    Figure 2.111

    Tall Zirā‘a. Survey squares and areas of search:

    • north (yellow)
    • south (red)
    • east (blue)
    • west (green)
    • plateau (grey)


    (Source: BAI/GPIA).

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    of the site from Vieweger and Häser (2017)

Magnified

  • Fig. 1.32 - Site plan from
    Figure 1.32

    General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    Vieweger and Häser (2017:28)
  • Fig. 4.4 - Area I with
    Figure 4.4

    Area I and its excavation squares (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    excavation squares from Vieweger and Häser (2017)
  • Fig. 4.5 - Area II with
    Figure 4.5

    Area II with its excavation squares (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    excavation squares from Vieweger and Häser (2017)
  • Fig. 4.6 - Area III with
    Figure 4.6

    Area III with its excavation squares (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    excavation squares from Vieweger and Häser (2017)
  • Fig. 2.111 - Survey Squares
    Figure 2.111

    Tall Zirā‘a. Survey squares and areas of search:

    • north (yellow)
    • south (red)
    • east (blue)
    • west (green)
    • plateau (grey)


    (Source: BAI/GPIA).

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    of the site from Vieweger and Häser (2017)

Chronology
Phasing

Tall Zira'a Tab. 4.1

Strata on Tall Zirā‘a in correlation with the periods (Source: BAI/GPIA).

Vieweger and Häser (2017)


Stratum 16 earthquake - Middle Bronze Age IIC

Vieweger and Häser (2017:11) report that a landslide destroyed the western area of the settlement; triggered by an earthquake or heavy rain. Calcareous sinter caves beneath the settlement layers also collapsed.

Stratum 3 earthquake - 8th century CE

Kenkel and Hoss (2020:116, 271, 273) report that the earthquake of 749 CE caused destruction in Tall Zira'a and destroyed parts of nearby Gadara.

Undated landslide

Plans and Figures

Plans and Figures

  • Fig. 1.32 - Site plan from
    Figure 1.32

    General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017)
    Vieweger and Häser (2017:28)
  • Fig. 1.68 - Landslide on the
    Fig. 1.68

    Tall Zirā‘a. Landslide on the east side. Photograph taken in 2009

    (Source: BAI/ GPIA)

    Vieweger and Häser (2017 v.1:45)
    east side of the Tell from Vieweger and Häser (2017 v.1:45)

Discussion

An undated landslide (Fig. 1.68) is present on the eastern side of the Tel (Vieweger and Häser, 2017:45).

Seismic Effects
Stratum 16 earthquake - Middle Bronze Age IIC

Effect Location Image(s) Comments
Landslide                    western area of the settlement
Figure 1.32

General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

Vieweger and Häser (2017)
a landslide destroyed the western area of the settlement - Vieweger and Häser (2017:11)
Cave collapse beneath the settlement layers
Figure 1.32

General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

Vieweger and Häser (2017)
Calcareous sinter caves beneath the settlement layers collapsed - Vieweger and Häser (2017:11)

Intensity Estimates
Stratum 16 earthquake - Middle Bronze Age IIC

Effect Location Image(s) Comments Intensity
Landslide                    western area of the settlement
Figure 1.32

General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

Vieweger and Häser (2017)
a landslide destroyed the western area of the settlement - Vieweger and Häser (2017:11) IV+
Cave collapse beneath the settlement layers
Figure 1.32

General Plan of the excavation area on Tall Zira'a (Source: BAI/GPIA)

Vieweger and Häser (2017)
Calcareous sinter caves beneath the settlement layers collapsed - Vieweger and Häser (2017:11) III+
This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of IV (4) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224.

Notes and Further Reading
References

Excavation Reports

Tall Zira'a The Gadara Region Project (2001-2011) Volume 1, Introduction

Tall Zira'a The Gadara Region Project (2001-2011) Volume 2, Early and Middle Bronze Age

Tall Zira'a The Gadara Region Project (2001-2011) Volume 6, Hellenistic to Umayyad Period (Strata 8-3)

Final publication of the excavations and surveys between 2001 and 2011

Websites

The Gadara Region Project

Wikipedia Page for Tall Zira'a