When starting the "Settling the Steppe" projection inward 2004, the archaeological squad inward accuse aimed to reconstruct the trouble histories of several modest areas inward social club to compare them amongst larger sites, similar Tell Deir ‘Alla as well as Tell es-Sa’idiyeh, Dutch archeologist Lucas Petit remembered.
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| A caput of a statue flora at Tell Damiyah site inward the key Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Valley [Credit: Lucas Petit] |
"The discontinuous trouble schemes at these as well as a few other sites suggested that the valley was abandoned occasionally during the Iron Age II, most probable due to harsh wetter weather condition [limited precipitation] or catastrophic events similar earthquakes," Petit said, noting that inhabitants moved to the plateau for a spell earlier returning.
Tell Damiyah (a site inward the key Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Valley) was trenched inward 2004 as well as 2005, as well as the enquiry squad discovered that its trouble history was continuous, without whatever clear gaps, Petit continued, highlighting how "remarkable as well as intriguing" it was.
However, he said, researchers could non abide by the response on why people remained at this site whereas the residuum of the valley was abandoned.
"The statue [height 41 cm] was flora inward street levels dated provisionally to 700 BC. The object seems to accept been discarded during occupation; inhabitants or visitors walked over it, causing it to intermission inward numerous fragments. Except for the head, the residuum of the statue could live restored as well as reconstructed," Petit explained.
"In 2013, nosotros discovered a 2nd statue [height xl cm], inward the same street levels equally the starting fourth dimension 1 — alone 2 metres away. This 1 was less consummate merely resembles the starting fourth dimension inward detail. Again, the caput was missing," Petit underlined.
Similar to the first, the statue was discarded on the street as well as suffered frequent trampling. Two years later, during a heavy sand storm, a caput was discovered within the edifice following to the street, he said, adding that the caput measured 13.9 cm inward tiptop as well as had a large protruding nose.
"Other human characteristics, such equally ears, eyes as well as lips were attached to the caput its headdress was made past times incisions. The caput was broken merely could live restored," the Dutch archeologist explained.
Unfortunately, the caput did non belong to 1 of the 2 previously flora statues, merely researchers at 1 time had a practiced sentiment how a consummate statue had looked similar inward 700 BC.They dated the caput at the same appointment equally statues.
Regarding the cloth these sculptures were made of, all iii were made of clay as well as were fired similar regular pottery, he explained, stressing that the exact business office is "difficult to empathize from the objects themselves" equally they produce non demonstrate whatever traces of use.
It is too non clear if they resemble humans or gods, he noted.
"The edifice was rectangular as well as contained two, allow us say, spaces divided past times a modest sidewall; the entrance to this edifice was via the street on which the 2 discarded statues were found; both spaces of the edifice had a podium made of mudbricks, which was lime-plastered," Petit elaborated, noting that 1 of explanations is the podium inward the larger western room where several brute figurines.
"The agency these brute figurines were flora suggested that they had been standing on the podium at the minute the edifice collapsed," Petit said, adding that the argue for the collapse is withal debated merely it was fast as well as furious, including fire.
"Could live an enemy assail or an earthquake?" he speculated.
Furthermore, this edifice did non incorporate whatever domestic utensils. No cooking pots, loom weights or grinding stones, the researcher continued, saying: "The alone artefacts on the flooring were those figurines, the head, a few consummate pots as well as 2 carefully placed bovid skulls."
These artefacts are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non agreed to accept been used inward a culticsetting, Petit said, noting that it is hence real reasonable to imagine that this key edifice at Tell Damiyah was used equally a sanctuary closed to 700 BC.
Since Damiyah could non identify as well as so many inhabitants — alone a few houses — the users of the sanctuary could live traders as well as travellers, he maintained.
"It is suggested hither that gifts as well as offerings inward this sanctuary, located closed past times 1 of the few fords of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan River, gave the visitor protection during his travel. At this stage, it is unclear what precise business office the statues had. In whatever case, the regain of a sanctuary amongst consummate cloth on its floors is a real rare abide by inward the expanse as well as may tell us much virtually religious belief during the Late Iron Age," Petit concluded.
Author: Saeb Rawashdeh | Source: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Times [August 31, 2018]
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