EXPLORE BY MONTH
January | February | May | June | October
—1943—
—January—
Left Side:
Jan. 25, 1943. Aziz in Jerusalem L.P. 2. 000
26 Rashid at Shuneh 5.000
II: lk. NW at T. Darmeh
:3 “NW at Darmih 1/5 at 16 filter
:4-5 “””
:6-7 looking NNW at Tell Dawih
:8-10 Dawih Ranam bridge looking E, (10) S.E.
Feb. 10, 1943
I:1 looking SW at Teleilat Chuweis [?]. filter 1/25 at 16
:2 looking NW t Bukeh of cl. Ademeh
:3 looking N.E at Ahren [?] in Ard Haseregh, above and just ne. of Wadi Ademeh.
:4 some as (3) only with filter.
:5 looking NE at Rujm Abu Qa’il.
:7-8 Wadi Harawieh-Dolmen on N side, looking NNE, about 1 kilometer W. and below R. Abu Qa’il.
–
Right Side:
Jan. 26, 1943.
I:1 One of the wlli n. of Shuneh.
:2 Tell Kufrein, looking and 1/25 at 10.
:3 “””” 1/25 at 16, filter
:4 “”, looking WNW 1/25 at lb, “
:5 looking NW at T. Kefrein “”””
:6 “””” T. Hemam from top 1/50 at 8.
:7 “” 1/50 “16 – filter
:8 I’ve missed one
:9 Tell Hamat Jemim 1/25 at 8.
:10
:11-12 “”” 1/25 at 16
II:1 looking W. at Tell Rameh 1/25 at 16 feet.
:2 “””” 1/25-8-.
:3 looking SSE at Tell Iktanu.
III { :4 looking WWSW at Tell Darmeh 1/5-16 – filter.
: 15-12 Dolmen at T. Um.qitem
Left Side:
V:1 looking NW at T. Deir Alla
:2 looking East at T. Sh’OBEH (also called T. MEIDAM)
:3-5 looking SW at T. Damia from Damia police-post.
:6-7 Sheikh Uncharek Oln Asmin and I at Damia.
:7 Dolman, looking north
:8- 9 looking South
:10-11
:12 looking west at Dolmen. Abdullah Mohammed of the Ramashan. The children are from the Ramadhan .
:Ali ibn Muhammed.
Right Side:
IV:1 looking SSW at Tell Amata and Tell Mozar beyond it 1/25 and 8.
:2 same as above 1/10 and 10
:3 ______[?]
:4 looking South across T. Qos Shemali of BA at Tel Qos Janubi of EI.
:5 also
:6 looking WSW at Tell Ghazala.
:7 looking SW at T. MAZAR from same position as no. 6 was taken.
:8 looking SSW at T. Mazar
:9 looking SW at “”
:10 looking ESE at Tell Deir Alla.
:11. E. at T. Hamseh on Zerqa
:12. Looking WNW at T. Hammeh from Zerqa bed.
Left Side:
[script in Arabic]
III:6 Selim Sounnah-Qreimeh, Ajlu police post. 1st Squadron.
[script in Arabic]
:7 Solih ID
:8 looking WSW from top of T. ABU Shahab at T. Saidiyeh 1/25 sed.
:9 same as no. 8. 1/10sec {ofenway 9.
:10 looking W-WNW at Tell Saidiyeh
:11 looking E-ENE at first and ____ bench of Tell Saidiyehel- Gharbiyeh which is at west base of Tell Saidiyeh ish-Sheqiyeh. Picture taken across dip separating two benches of 2 halves of T. Saidiyeh el-Gharbiyeh.
:12 looking W-WNW at _____ of building walls, of 2 rectangular rooms at NE corner of Tell SAIDIYEH el-GHARRIYEH, taken from NW and top of T. SAIDIYEH es-SERQIYEH
Right Side:
Sheikh Umbarak Abu Asmin Damise
2.50
1.15
p.3.65 horses
14.00 car
[script in Arabic that has been crossed out]
–
Left Side:
Tel Nimsin (does not equal Beth Nimah)
Jan. 26, 1943.
(202)
Immediately East of village of Shermeh a small hill, which is about 6 meters at highest point above the road. The road is cut through its northern side, showing various building walls and burnt layers. The pottery is Roman- then Arabic. On the hill are modern graves. Found a flint. It stands on a rise of hills to east. To south and west stretch plain of Dead Sea, which is visible from here. To E-ENE is Tell on North side of Wadi Nazugin- [?]. Tell Mustah is not visible from here because of open running down to road east of here beyond small dip of plain. On the East rise beyond this small plain east of here are some caves.
Right Side:
(202a) Med. Arabic site.
About ¾ kilometers east of Tell Minzin is another small mound through the North side of which the road is out. Building remains and burnt layers visible in it, on both sides of road. The descent to Wadi Shab is steeper here. There are some [?] remains on top of mound. This is close to hill on East side with caves in it. The sherds are predominantly med. Arabic. An early flint found here, which I am marking Tell Murim.
TELL BLEIBIL= Beth Normiaks [?]
EI pottery. Hills from east widen out. Just at this point on commanding height on isolated hill with flat top is this tell. The steepest side is the S one, where ancient terrace walls can be seen. Tell Numin clearly visible, and whole vista of Jordan Valley and Palestine hills. On North side descent is less steep, with small wall curving around from left side around North side, to rim W. Shab on S side.
Left Side:
NNE by SSW
110 x 40 M.
No building remains visible on flat top now. On NNE side.
(208)
Tell Meshrara el-Abjed = Byz. site
A group of about half a dozen of low, small, chalky rises, sort of pimples. On those nearest the road are early graves. No pottery. At the SSW corner about a kilometer from the road, are some Byz. ruins on a small rise near an irrigated section.
Tuliel el-Beidha are the above mentioned group.
Of Abel, RB 1910, p. 546.
Right Side:
(204) Byzantine artisan wells
aqueduct and shafts about ½ kilometer north of cross-roads in Ghor Nimsin. Deep shafts atop water to irrigated fields below. We could hear the water rushing at the bottom. On top the arid, whitish desert land. The shafts evidently top the water level.
Finally it emerges into a deep ditch some 10 metres deep where it emerges till it reaches level of level irrigated lands below and comes out level with surface.
A man can walk upright in the underground channel.
13 metres from where channel comes out in open to first shaft at bottom of low, gentle rise to east. Those shafts are about 10 metres apart. From last opened shaft to Jebel on east is about 1.5 kilometres.
There are 18 shafts, 2 not open, one on
Left Side:
east side of road. No sherds at all. The have been opened to irrigate Erin Aldullah’s lands.
The diameter of the shafts at the top is about 3.60 metres. A few Roman – Byz. sherds found. This plane is about ¾ kilometres from Erin’s first pumping station to the north. Reasons for shafts around a top greater quantity of water and [?] water to fields with hand pumping; c) keep channel open, and provide air for men 2) remove debris from shaft.
KHEIRSE ‘AH
(205)
A Khan-like place in irrigated plain in full view of North end of Dead Sea. About 40 metres square. Sherds almost all Byzantine [?] kept. Outlines of rooms against inside of outer walls of Khom. There are also several modern Arabic sherds.
Right Side:
TELL GHASALEH
(207)
A small Roman- Byz. site on top of small Qattarah on high [?] overlooking the Wadi Nimsin, which is [?] here and partly cultivated. The stream is vandalized on the North side. This site commands a view of road of the Ghor to the West, and to the Dead Sea to the South and the Ghor to the North Qam Sartabeh very clean from here. Many Roman and Byz. sherds.
Tell Ghamam (Tubul el-Gharam)
(206)
On North side of Wadi Nimsin, on plain above it. Some fairly modern Arabic sherds and a few graves (see next page) [sic]
–
Jan. 27, 1943.
Left Page:
The graves are on a small rise, among some which obviously very early. There are flints and sherds here which are in all probably Chalcolithic to beg. of EB, although they are hard to find in the Wadi below which is fairly broad is some cultivation.
We are in full sight of Sheneh, and the police-post which is E-ESE of here on the immediate South side of the Wadi Nimrin which are moderately steep and descend about 2-4 metres with ground descending to it. Qom Sartabeh is clearly visible. There are some burial places, (2) with stones in a circle about a half a meter round.
Below it is a spring, which flows strongly from the North side into the wadi. It is called Ain Majib today after the name of the Sheikh of the Adwan.
Right Side:
It is really not a spring, but the water of the wadi reappearing above ground, after going underground for a bit.
Jeleilat Ghariam is really a [?] place, except for the very slight rise on which are the graves. The land dips beyond the rise to the plain extending north of it, which merges into, or rather is a part of the Ghor of the Jordan.
Jan. 27, 1943.
TELL KAFREIN
(210)
Abel Sutton (of Abel, RB 1910, p.542 and oriented WSW by ENE)
15 x 24 metres high, matured hill, commanding magnificent view of the entire plain at NE end of Dead Sea. Much land between here Sajin to the South is irrigated and cultivated. On top of mound are modern graves. On east side are caves and tombs broken open. Sherds are safely EI; going down into EI II. A small plain between here and hills moving to East.
Left Side:
Hillsides anciently terraced. A small bench on West side, below which is a 10^7 meter descent to plain-, and on this descent are most of caves and tombs. One EB sherd at West base of hill.
TELL ABU KARF
(211)
Wadi Kafrein has a strong flow of water in it. A large, flat topped rise, with a few modern burials on it, moving gradually for north to west and descending somewhat more steeply to East and South, on which sides the Wadi Sir with its strong stream bends around it to the E-ENE Tell Tahuneh is across the wadi. Tell Tahuneh is across the wadi. Tell Kefrein is clearly visible from here and Tell Rameh, on which some houses are built. On the West and East sides
Right Side:
Are some banana plantations today. The flat-topped rise of Tell Abu Garf is some 60 meters in diameter, and commands the Wadi Sir. A small number of EB sherds and some modern Arabic sherds on it. It would seem that a larger EB site may lie on the flat topped rise on the East side of the Wadi Sir.
This site and the other mainly are directly below the eastern foothills rising to the plateau above.
Right Side:
Tell el-Jahureh
On top of a high, natural hill, dominating the onset of the fairly broad Wadi Sir coming from the east which in parts is cultivated. The small white wadi bed threads through it. The canalized water works a water-mill on the SW side of the hill. On the top are the remains of a large building, a castle.
Left Side:
about 15 x 18 meters, oriented n-s, with foundation walls flesh with surface about 80 cm wide, all sherds that [?] have been washed away, but the site looks fairly modern to me. It overlooks Tell Aln Aarf.
One sherd was Byz. and one sherd by the house on the knoll below it at the SW side was glazed med. Arabic. In the mill are some cut stones which must have come from the castle on the hill-top above it.
TELL el-HAMMEH es-SAMRI (Beth Haram (?))
(212)
Tell el-Hammam
It dips slightly in center with highest side on Southwest side. A fairly broad bench is below it at Northeast side before descent of hill to plain below. Across a small plain to the ENE rise the hills. It commands over.
Right Side:
Oriented SW by NE [sketch with dimensions] a long stretch 107 meters sloping slightly to the SW side. Then a rise of about 3-4 metres to a platform which rises then to highest part at SW side. A wall separates the platform from main stretch, Traces of this wall are left. The whole length of top is about 140 metres. At SW and at highest point are traces of a strong tower. It has been about confidentally [?] by digging into it for buried [?].
It dominates Tell Alu Garf and Tell Kufrein.
Right Side:
Wadi Kufrein , a large stretch of the Wadi to the NNE, and it bends to the NW. Tell Kefrein already visible to the NW-NNW. The wall on the NE side is almost 2 metres thick. The entire plain, and all the tulul in it visible from here.
The hill slopes down below highest SW part to plain about 30 metres below about half a kilometer to SW is the Wadi el-Makei’keh [?].The entire top of the tell is covered with building ruins. Large quantities of EI pottery on top and slopes, and approximately a few EB sherds. This is the highest site in the plain. Large stretch of Dead Sea is visible.
Right Side:
The width of the upper platform including about 1.2 meters wide is about 17 metres. The main width in the middle is about 25 metres. There are several large cross-walls. A store in which the door turned is visible on the top surface.
Right Side:
Tell RAMEH
(214)
does not equal Beth-Haram.
high natural mound, fairly [?] top, covered with modern graves. To the southwest are the waters of the Wadi Rameh gardens and plantations around it, and especially between here and Shaghmeh. Byz. and between mainly med. Arabic sherds. Also many med. Arabic glazed and painted sherds at east side of hill (looked again on morning of Jan 28. Found nothing different.
MAZAR
(215)
A small rise covered with graves. To east of it a series of modern graves, built over Byz. site, and using parts of a Byz. building, probably a church. Rom- Byz. sherds here. This is on South side of fine stream of Wadi Rameh which comes from hills and goes into Dead Sea. There are modern houses by this side, which may be considered a modern suburb of Jabel Siaghah clearly visible from here.
–
Jan. 28, 1943
Left Side:
Shaghen and T. Shaghies
(216)
Houses among strong outcrops. Some med. Arabic and later sherds. Jehel Siaghah clearly visible from here.
El-Kefrem
(210a)
Canalized water of Wadi Kefrain whose breadth has merged into plain rushes past here. Several mud brick houses on a small wide rise. Med. Arabic sherds.- large numbers. between here and Tell Kefrein a dip filled with banana plantations.
Right Side:
Jan. 28, 1943
(217)
DABAKIYEH
A reservoir, less than a kilometer West of T. Rameh. The west curved end of the wall is a meter thick, with small stores in center and larger stones outside.
This biskeh is on a raised area, descending slightly to circular part at East end. From it waters could be drawn to irrigate folds on all sides. Sherds are Byz. (early). Pieces of mortar found at its west end the wall is 3 metres above ground.
Left Side:
To IKTANU (see below)
(219)
Oriented NE-NNE by SW-SSW measures roughly 35 x 22 metres on a high hill, quite steep on North and less on South sides, sloping down in several benches on E-NE side, and with sloping [?] outspan on SW-W side. We are approaching hills here, with land rising in waves to them and by wudyan, till about 2 kilometres from here on from e to s sides hills begin. Hills stretch out about 2-2.5 kilometres away on S side, reaching westward towards Dead Sea. The vista is clear here to N and W and SW with Tell Hammeh es-Samir, Tell Kufrein Shaghere to Tell Raneh clearly visible from here. This place commands the outlet of Wadi Hasban which is deeper and much narrower than outlet of Wadi Kefrein guarded by T. Hammeh es-Saineiyeh. Irrigated fields stretching in spots between here and Shaghen.
Right Side:
There are also EB to MBI, mostly MBI sherds, found near bottom of slopes of hill, particularly on S side.
There seems to have been a wall around the top of the hill, but it is too dark to trace. A few modern graves and hill-top. Large quantities of mostly EI sherds on top and slopes. Signs of some terracing or building walls on North side, and a few building stores flush with ground on top.
Definite traces of outer wall still visible on SE corner, and particularly along S side, also visible less well on NE side visible well on SW side, and traceable also on N side. It is 1 metre wider below wall on SW side is a descending rocky open, which evidently was more built on. Below bottom of SW side is a banana plantation.
There are flint-knives and perhaps some EB sherds here too.
The wall can be seen very well at SSW corner.
W side oriented N-NNW by S-SSE = 20 (42)
S side “ E-ENE by W-WSW 35 -> E side
Left Side:
T. MESELH. AH
(218)
is nothing but a rocky outcrop, extending approximately NNE by SSW. On the E side near the S end remains of an amount [?] can be seen. A few Byz. sherds lying about between here and Tell Iktanu, there were numerous Byz. and med. Arabic sherds in the fields, which are everywhere prepared in arid plots for irrigation. There are several broken water mills by it.
About a kilometer NNW of TIKTANU is a flat, low rise, with a broken water mill by its SW end, on which are numerous Byz. and some med. And late Arabic sherds.
Right Side:
We have been walking east along W. Haslan to part where hills really begin to rise. All along Wadi bed, and beside canalized stream are remains of Byz. and med. Arabic settlemnts and broken water mills. Then here there is a magnificent river of Tell IKTANU, which deviates to entire outlet of Wadi Haslan, and starts up much higher looked at from east than from any other direction.
TELL METAB’A 220
We are now in the first range of hills, with a magnificent view over the Arboth Moab and also on T.IKTANU at the part where the hill begins to ascend steeply on the South side of the Wadi Hesbon is a broken water mill in working order. On a fairly isolated height on the hill above, is a modern [?], standing among some foundation ruins, with a cistern on the
Left Side:
South side of one of the buildings, all of which covering about half a duran are down to ground level. On the slope below this leading down to water mill is a large kolman field of large dolmans, all of them thrown down, one of them appears to have a hole pierced through the upper lid, show standing on to side practically. There are very few sherds, some of them fairly modern Arabic, and a couple may be EB. Some flints also. This place [?] of the approach to the Wadi Haslan also to the ESE.
On the descent to the mill on the N side of the little wadi landing from below T. Metab’a is a
Right Side:
Stone well, 60 centimeters wide which covers a finely cut small stone [?] canal, which evidently brought water down from above to the mill. Pottery pipe may have been laid in it. Why there was [?] when the rushing waters of Wadi Haslan below supplied all the water [?] is not clear. Anyway the pipe-line is absolutely [?] and clear, and long. Every so many meters, apparently, there was an opening about 60 x 40 centimeters. The line was laid on a stone cut channel, several blocks of which are visible torn up.
Uram Getem
(22)
N-NNW by S-SSE debris whose west side is 3 store blocks long, with a door between them.
1.35 thickness of wall = .65 / mon west side stone 1.80 cm
Son. Door is 1.60 wide and .45 thick. High.
1.2 high.
Outside half .88 cm wide with .85 cm high now
Left Side:
East wall of this dolman house is completely gone.
About 15 meters to east of it is another dolman house, both walls preserved. Its length is composed of 2 [?] stones, oriented in some way as dolman house on west side.
[sketch with dimensions]
of Stevermagel, ZDPV 48. pl. 21, Doppeldulmen em Ras Immif 2PPV 49, p.a.391
The total length of this house is approximately six metres. Total width is 3.05 meters. The total length of the house most of it is 7:35 meters. The total width is .65 – +1.80 +.65 [circled measurement] = 3.5 meters.
Right Side:
This dolman settlement is on a ridge on south side of Wadi Haslan, and overlooking Wadi Qiersab.
West House
The store at the rear and fits on a rough slot of the main stone. The main stone is .65 cm. Thick there [sketch]. The east house is built on a circular base, the center of the outside of which is 5.30 from the east wall of east house with another circle h 80 metres from outer east side of east circle. Then there are at least 3 [?] of stones, each about 15 cms higher than the others [sketch].
Left Side:
The diameter of the half side of stone base west of west wall of west house is 5.180 m.
I found a ledge handle buried in [?] or dirt of half circle beyond a wall of east house.
There are walls, one each of 2 other houses west of west wall.
Stores of outer half circle east of east wall of east house measures
1.10 x 80
80 x 80
Right Side:
The outer circles of [?] went up in stays and perhaps covered the outer walls of the houses completely. Perhaps earth mounds went or the houses completely. Perhaps earth mounts went over these houses and concealed them. Perhaps they were buried mounds.
Jehel Sieglah visible from here.
On the little hill to the NW of it are more dolmans, overlooking Wadi Qeseih and entire plain stretches to Tell Kefrein
The puzzling thing is that I found definite EB sherds, a very early ledge-handle, on the east side of the East house, in the dirt on top of the raised terrace on which the house stands. If the Dolman is probably
–
Jan. 29, 1943
Left Side:
a thousand years before the Chalcolithic period, as I am now inclined to think it is, then what are EB sherds doing there? This is not the first time I have found EB sherds, usually, to be sure very worn EB sherds, by these dolmans, and now what certainly look like dolman houses. It is possible that the EB people already robbed and reused the Dolman tombs and tumuli and houses, and for that reason we find nothing in them, except early EB pottery.
Studying the typography of the Dead Sea plain at its NE end, one sees the commanding sector, controlling the outlets of the various wadis into the Dead Sea plain. At the Wad Nimsin is Tell Blubil; at Wadi Kefrein is Tell Hammeh es-Samri; and Wadi Rameh (Haslan is Tell IKTANU.
Right Side:
Jan. 29, 1943
DHAHARAT ON NAIYAN
(We are still looking for it)
We are overlooking the Zor, some 30-40 metres below in a semi-island of green, with patches of cultivation, and a strong spring (?) [sic] irrigating them. This Zor is an entirely different world, for below the table top of the Ghor proper (it is cold down here today).
After walking across the Ghor to the road, one can realize why there are no early settlements about.
Overlooking the North edge of the Zor and Najyan are found a fairly large number of Byz. sherds.
On the way over we also passed by some Roman sherds Tell Medan el-Ald a completely natural hill-top as the top of the first main hill. The hills about 2 previous [?] benches.
Left Side:
Bessat Khalaf
(209)
A fairly good sized Byz. settlement close to the modern road. Some low foundation walls visible. Large numbers of Byz. sherds. It is on a low, large, flat rise. They may have irrigated the way the 18 wells south of here provide water. The Ewie has -> motor artesian pumps south of here. However, his lands, immediately east of here, ploughed for wheat, cannot be planted because absolutely no rain practically has fallen north of Dameh this year. And it must always be very scanty. Hence, what with the absence of perennial streams, the almost complete absence of settlement between Sheereh and Dameh.
El-Megam
Tiny Byzantine site, and a couple of other Byz. pin-points
Right Side:
Tell Dameh
recreated
Damils Roman bridge.
It rained at the Dead Sea tonight.
(221) (222)
–
—February—
Feb. 10, 1943. SWEIMEH
W-WSW by E-ENE, roughly 75×60 metres a low mound, with a few modern houses, made out of cut stones taken from Khurbeh. The stones like med. Arabic to me. On West side of mound a modern trench has exposed a layer of white ash, some 40 centimeters thick, resting on black ash. This ash level runs through whole low mound.
Left Side:
The sherds, quite numerous, are from Byz. Then med. Arabic, with some still later. It is a low mound, highest on North and South sides, less high on West side, and sloping to plain on North side. Beyond this North side are several round stone circles, which might be early.
There is considerable cultivated ground, irrigated, planted to wheat rimmed. South of this Khulet es- Swaineh. There are almost 6000 dunams of irrigated land, which runs all the way back to the foothills. This is Tell Ghor Swaineh.
The water comes from Ain Sweimeh, and must be very strong. I can see the stream of it all the way from here, almost 1.5 kilometres away.
Right Side:
There are some wells, giving very small amount of water on east, bottom of site.
None of the sites north of us visible from here. This is really at NE end of Dead Sea, with mountains closing in. I can see no sherds here earlier than Byz. There are some broken pillars in the store-house on the South side, probably Byz. or med. Arabic pillars.
Teleilat Usaweis
(223)
On the South side of the Wadi el-Adeimeh, which has no water in it. My guide says the water is drawn off along for irrigation purposes. This place is less than a kilometer E-ENE of Kheilet Sweimeh.
This place seems to have been a sort of Khan, about 55 meters in diameter with 2 fairly high towers on the NE side. There are vague foundation ruins to be seen. There are very few sherds, a few being Chalcolithic (?) [sic], the rest Byz. and Arabic.
Small open ploughing ~ small stretch on Noth side of West adermah [?] across from T. Usmras [?] and water from Ain Ajuresh later on.
Left Side:
Kh el-ADEIMEH
(224)
a little over a kilometer SW from here, on South side of Wadi Adeimeh is T. Umereis. This place is on North side of wadi. A small number of glazed and painted med. Arabic sherds.
There is an irrigation ditch on the North side of this mound, through which water can be let today to irrigate very small gardens seen T. Unweis.
This is a natural dirt mound, with a hollow in it, and a 10 metres wall on West side. To hold water in hollow, gathered from Wadi Adaimeh, and then used to irrigate gardens below, practically none of which was irrigated today. On the
Right Side:
North side, about ¼ kilometer away is another irrigation ditch leading to gardens near Wadi Jaifah and West end, that is WNW from here. This ditch can also use water of W. Adwiseh. The dam wall has stores in it which are probably med. Arabic scattering, and also later ones. The rain water caught in it has made some grass grow, which our horses are eating. However, this is really a qude little burbeh, for same purpose as of Delahseyeh [?]. The dam wall is 50 centimetres thick.
About 1.5 kilometers eastward, the wadi narrows to the Pas Moget Adeimeh, which poms out of the rock forming a small waterfall.
Left Side:
About ½ kilometer along it, on the ascent to Reyins Abu Qu’il is a standing dolman at the east end of a rocky saddle, with a number of small, obviously old burials beneath it, on the slope of the saddle.
We are on the first ascent above the plain, which stretching here westward is quite large. To the NNE is Shemeh. Dolman field and Harawiyu (225) is site of el-Adeimeh name of this section. On the hill top immediately above the tiny wade in between is surveyar’s rujm. From this point, one gets an excellent view of the plain to the N and in the distance to the N-NNE Tell Rameh is visible. There are remains of at
Right Side:
Least half a dozen fallen down dolmans, a couple with two sides standing, and between them several graves measuring 90 x 50 centimeters on inside measurements [sketch].
Stores 15 centimeters thick. Another 75 x 35 centimeters inside. These are almost flush with the ground. The North end of Dead Sea visible from here. Those two halves are under Abu Qu’id.
Half-way between the above mentioned regions and Reyin Abu Gard [?] is what looks like a cistern but is obviously a grave- inside diameter is 1.8 meters. Thickness of wall in addition is 60 cm – 90 cm. Width of stones ranging from 20 to 35 to 25 thickness top layer average 15 cm. – larger before 25-20 cm.
Left Side:
Rujm Abu Ga’il
This is the highest point we have reached yet. It is on ridge, oriented roughly N-S and commands Wadi Abi Ga’il, in which there is a spring, which I’m not going down to see. To the North, we can see Shemeh, Tell Rameh, Tell Iktanu, Tell el-Hasami es-Samra.
It is interesting to note, however, that South of Wadi Rameh, there is, except for vicinity of Swemeh, practically no cultivation today. From here, we can see the shed of the French excavations at T. Ghassul, and the irrigated green reaches almost up to it. South of it, however, there is practically no green. The good stream from Ain Adeemeh is not enough to irrigate
Right Side:
Large sections of land. I question, after results of today, whether Abul-Jesimst [?] is to be identified with Seimeh. There are no streams of water here to compare with Wadi Rameh; i.e. no streams of waterleft in between Dead Sea and Wadi Rameh.
The Arboth Noeh they would really extend between Iktanu and Bleibil [?]; going as far westward as T. Ghasul. The dolman field, and the surveyer’s sign we saw below us is a little over a kilometer below us to the W-WSW.
This hill-top is oriented N-NE by S-SW. The rujm at the South end is a small deserted town. The sherds at all found. On the top, here, below the North side of the rujm, in the ridge, is an early grave, 1.6 x 48 centimeters. Inside measurement
Left Side:
Oriented E-W
This rujm looks like a circular base to me, on top of which originally may have been a dolman. On the SSW side it is 6 rows of stones, i.e 1.8 cm. high. The stones are hardly cut, having really wide blocks piled up. The fact that there are a few small stones between them to fill chunks after a fashion, or rather to support the unshaped blocks, makes one wonder whether it is an early rujm or not. These stores average about 70 cm. long, and 50 cms. Wide.
It is about 8.5 meters in diameter. On the South side, some 6 meters from it are some upright stones which look as if they might
Right Side:
have belonged to something like a fence around the side. Below the immediate SW side on a shelf in a stone circle about 24 meters in diameter with another smaller circle almost 4 meters in diameter inside of it, somewhat off center to the North side.
Also nightly the SW side of the rujm are traces of circular graves. This whole hillside as far as Wadi Heslan is full of graves and dolmans overlooking the plain to W and N. My guide tells me they continue South of here.
North of Wadi Adeimeh and 1 kilometer West and below R. Abu Qail[?] a large dolman field with a number visible on South Side of small wadi also.
Right Side:
Kh.Ras Ain Ademen
Kh. Hen-Adeimeh.
Tell el-Adeimeh
(227)
N-NNE by S-SSW and 19 meters across walls 1 meter thick on shelf on South side of W.Edeineh overlook, rise of fine spring, and stream of which is canalized leading beyond the North side of W., is another canalized stream Coding [?] on South side and cutting immediately below North wall of this building. The shelf it occupies is isolated on North by W. Ademeh, and on South by a tiny wadi- to East it rises to slope above it beyond a small depression. To W. it slopes in stages to a broad, and obviously once cultivated bench.
On the top of the slope above it is a fine circular grave (?) [sic] about 4.5 meters in diameter with large stones standing length and edg[?] forming the circle. The stones are 1:10 long.
Right Side:
And 20-30 cm. thick and about 60 cm wide, which means height.
The water which passes half a meter below the N wall of this building in a canal comes from Ain el-Hev. In the Wadi Hai, which in its lower reaches becomes the Wadi Adeimeh. It waters the lands of the Belqawigah. This place directly overlooks Ras Ain Adeimeh.
There are other walls at edge of upper bench on west side. They may have belonged to the other building. The sherds few in number seem to be Chalcolithic, Arabic, and a single EI. If any place here in there this is it.
[Hebrew script]
Right Side:
It commands a view to Shaneh (Tell Ghassul to North quarter of Dead Sea.
On the North side of main building, on same level, are ruins of a smaller building. This side overlooks Wadi Adeimeh from South.
This site is a very beginning of steep ascent of steep hills, and top of gradual slope from below.
The Wadi Adeimeh and the small wadi on South side are together almost 1.5 kilometer below.
–
Left Side:
Feb. 17, 1943.
The plain South of Sheineh is green with grass sprung up after the heavy rains 2 weeks ago. Numerous little dry wadis are still flowing with water. I am turning back and going to Jerash. Bleibel Tell Kefrein and Tell Iktanu and Tell Hassani Sarni visible dominating the plain, which has suddenly been filled with Navi tents (gypsies). Tents made of saching [?]. I am looking at this area at a point almost 2 kilometers South of Sheimeh.
Patches of snow on the hill-tops around Suwileh.
–
Feb. 18, 1943 MIRYAMIN (231)
Stevernagel, ZDPV29, p.a.397
A very large Roman-Byz. site, with remains of foundations of numerous cut stone houses on top and sides of large hill-top. The west and S. sides of which command a fine view over the N Jordan Valley, and a large part of the Valley of Esdelon and the Beisan plain [?].
Left Side:
There is a surveyor’s rujm on this side.
It took us almost 2 hours to ride here, along the Wadi Za’a, from Tell Neqbereh, to get here. There are numerous rock-cut cisterns, and cistern caves here. The sherds are all Roman Byz. and med. Arabic. The upland plains are cultivated around here where the earth hasn’t been washed away. The Ghor and Zor and tust[?] Jordan visible in large part. Tell el Abu Kharaz, Tell Meqdesh visible from here, and Shahabil, and Wadi Yabirs. There is a church here and remnants of mosaic floor under the dust.
SARTABAH (232)
Stevernagel ZDPV 49, p.A. 398
On an extremely high hill, very difficult to get at. We have been scrambling up and down, very steep, wadis ever since leaving Miryami [?]. On a large, flat, up, upland meadow, which forms the top of the hill, is a large fortress, with 3 towers on each side.
Right Side:
No sherds could be found because of steepening of rises. A high hasfesh. Jarture [?] visible below it on North side to SE is visible Qolet Rolod [?].
On the W side of the hill-top. It commands a magnificent view of the Ghor, Zor, and Jordan. It is possible to see clearly Sea of Gelela and almost to Damiah. This is the finest vantage point anywhere along the Jordan. The walls are 2.20 meters thick.
About 150 yards to the SE of it is a smaller structure. Near the N side is a large filled up cistern-cave.
[sketch]
Left Side:
The small is 15 meters square tower guarded the approach from wadis to the S below this hill top. The area between the castles may have been walled in. Traces of a wall on E. Sid between them.
Both of roughly cut limestone blocks bonded at corners.
Sartabaleh is completely surrounded by wadis, with the hills leading down steeply to Ghor.
To the SE, the hillside goes down in broad stepes, with the lowest one apparently closed off by a wall. A saddle connects the hill through with those to the East.
Right Side:
[sketch occupying entire page]
Left Side:
el-KHARJEH
(233)
commanding a view on to and slightly above Satoleh. It commands a view directly into the Beisan plain and the valley west of it. This is a medium sized Rom-Byz. house, with large, fairly well cut limestone blocks strewn about. A side tree straddles one like a rider a horse, to the W. This is a steep slope and a steep use better here and Satobeh, to the east there is an undulating plain, landing after a month descent to higher belt to the East- the sherds are Roman Byz. Several customs are usable. There are no modern houses about at all. On the W. side the land goes down in terraced, weltuated [?] stages.
BASINIAH
A complete sacred sete, Rom-Byz. on a rise, overlooking a wadi to
Right Side:
West and fine sketch of upland plain to S. There is at least one cistern visible, and remains of foundation walls of perhaps 10 houses. Small stretches of the Ghor can be seen through gaps in the halls below us.
YUSNA
Immediately West of Kufi Abil is a rocky, small, plateau-like rise, isolated which seems to have functioned mostly as a query, probably for the original Roman-Byz. site of Kufi Abil. Sherds, small number of Rom-Byz. period found. We are in the hilly country of the Aylan Tyke. To the SW are catches a glimpse of the Ghor. The SE side, immediately below the rocky plateau-like area, after a small descent, rise to hills to the E. wadis and then high hills; somewhat, but less as to the N. To W descent to hills into Ghor, after a gentle rise planted to back.
Feb. 18, 1943
II: 1- Tell Arbair looking SW
:2 “””” Filter! [?]
:3 Looking W at Ain el-Hammeh
:4 “”””””. Felts,
:5 Seitan Zeinali
:6 lk ESE at T. Meqberesh
:7””””” felter 1/10 at 22
:9 same without peter
:li W over T. Meqberesh from T. HOSFH
:12 lk, E at Meqberesh and T. GHOSFEH.
III: with filter. 1/10 at 16
:2 “” T. Abu Kharaz (T. GHOSFEH)
:3 “”””” with filter
:4 looking North at Tell Maqlub 1/10 at 11 (Feb. 18, 1943)
:5 “”” filter 1/10 at 16
:6”””””22
Right Side:
–
Feb. 19, 1943.
Al-Hammeh near Jebogat J’ehil in Wadi el-Hammeh- a strong hot spring issuing on North side of Wadi el-Hammeh. The opening is ended in a circular stone house, with partly open roof.
On a shelf above it, at base
Right Side:
Of high hill of Tell el-Hameh East of el-Hammmam, is a small couple revived Byz. site. The wadi continues east on the N side. It is fortified from Jabqel J’ahil [?] en route to Kurfs Rehab.
(230) Dhaharet el-Husn el-ghaih
Tell el-Hammeh = Tell el-Husn(?) [sic].
On top of high, natural rujm playing over hill of Jell el-Hammah is good plastered cistern, still holding some water with 7 steps leading down on East side and 2 below it on North side.
Some small heap of stones nearby, where once were a few small buildings.
A grand view over North par of Jordan Valley from here. It is oriented E-W, and measures almost 2.25×2 meters. The hill top oriented N-S
Right Side:
was apparently one surrounded by a wall 1.2 meters thick, practically no sherds to be found. Covered by high weeds and grass.
This was really a large site, completely isolated on its high hill, flattish, turned top, sides near top partly terraced. No sherds except a few Byz. ones.
Tell Meqberesh by Wadi Yabris (159)
Oriented NW by SE, and mounting noticeably to SE. About 40 meters long on top. A small dip of about 200 meters separates it from rising foothills to SE. Police post of Qem visible from here to South Jabir and Beisan to NW and NNW. Some building-stores on top. The view of whole plain, being on top of the gradual rise to the east foot-hills. It is almost 25 metres wide at top. The slopes are gentle and considerable.
(Fawwaz Ahmed Seinati gave us Shenina and Zebdeh and Heebs, whils we were visiting for horses meal Tell Meqbereh).
EBI sherds part [?] on SE slope, also EI sherds.
(159a) TELL ABU KHUARAZ
Immediately above it is the real site. Upon finding most of the BA sherds on the E side and SE side of the lower site, I looked up, and decided the flat topped high hill above it, might be the BA site. It is. These are BA, EI, and Byz. sherds here. The site was originally surrounded by a great wall, one meter thick. It is oriented commands a wonderful view of the North Jordan Valley, directly overlooks
Right Side:
The small Tell Meqberesh el-Ghabbh below us. We are really on top of a large, high, steep, and almost completely isolated hill, surrounded by small plains, with the Jordan Valley reaching it on the West and North sides. There is quite a steep rise to the first bench on the West side, and then this bench leads to the steep slope looking to the top of the fortified fairly flatt hill, which slopes from E to W.
On the South side especially the surrounding wall is best seen. There seems also to have been a store glacis [?] built against it. This place commands a view of the entire length of the Wadi Yabis after it emerges from the hill, till sight of it is lost beyond Sherhalil. Not on the Ghor, but in places the ZOR can be seen from this grand vantage point.
Left Side:
There is a small plain as the NE side, between it and the next rise to the higher hills east of it. This place is about ½ to ¾ kilometers directly east of Meqbereh.
On East side SSW-NNE 60 yards
On North side ESE-WNW 54 yards
On West side SSW-WWE 60 yards
,,, WNNW-SSSE 4 yards
on South , EW 120 yards
On the South side are rujms extending South of wall for about 5 metres with varying distances between them (of walls about 1 meter thick) of 4 to 6 to J m.
There are some eigullah pieces. The wall is I believe on ES wall, but here most of the sherds are EB,
Right Side:
With a large number of EI. Tell Megbereh is a suburb of this place. There the farmers lived. This was the fortress in EB, EI and Rom-Byz. traces.
On the West side are outcroppings of rock. On the South side, a small saddle commands the top of the Tell with the hill to the south of it, the outpost.
This place is called Tell Abu Kharaz, and is in the Ald Ghosfeh.
It is noteworthy, that Tell Meqberesh and Tell Abu Kharaz are about two hours ride from Beisan.
Friday, Feb. 19, 1943.
Left Side:
In Kufi Abil a number of pillars, built in house, and rock cent. Cisterns.
Friday, Feb. 19, 1943.
T.MAQLUB
(234)
Stevernagel, 22PV Q9, p. A391.
Oriented NNE-SSW, with the Wadi Yabes curving around it from NE to SW. Below on the E and NE sides are five gardents in the Yabes Vally, which make a fairly broad bend, although the whole land is little more than ¾ kilometers wide as the West side, here. There are lemon and pomegranate trees in large numbers here. This isolated hill-top, commands an excellent position, and slopes on its top from SSW to NNE, and down to SSW, dominating the bend of the Wadi Yabis. On its West side of the hill is a small, dry wadi which runs into the Wadi Yabis. The fairly steep slopes of the hill
Right Side:
Are terraced and cultured. The gentlest slopes are on the North side. This is a very considerable hill-top. The slope on the South side is also fairly gradual.
The Wadi Yabis has a fine perennial stream. Sheikh Ali told me last night that Ewin Abdullah recently said to him that the Wadi Yabis was wrongly names, thinking that the name is to be assoc[?]. With its modern Arabic equivalent- this place is in the midst of steep hill country. We have made a considerable descent from Kufi Abil to get here, and this place is completely surrounded by high hills. If this were Jebesh Gelead, its inhabitants could never have walked from here, to Beian brook in one night, and particularly with their bodies. The hill top itself is terraced and completely ploughed area. There are so many weeds, where barley isn’t growing, that it is difficult to make things not, but the hill.
Left Side:
Top was enclosed with an originally BA strong wall. There are also some traces of house remains. The hill-top is about 130-24 meters on top. On top are EB, WI, Rom. Byz. sherds. Difficult to find sherds, but those found are clear.
At the S end are remains of about an 18 meter pqyere [?] tower. At the North end are also remains of a tower. This would appear to be an EI set-up.
There is a slope on both ends of top towards central platform, with ends of both slopes guarded by towers. This place at least 4 hours ride from Beisan. At the very bottom slope of the hill, particularly on the NE side, found grantities of EBI sherds, where there was an open unploughed space.
There is an old olive grove at the South side of the hill of T. Magheb, with some trees that must be Roman in time. They are close to the bottom of the small dry wade near where it amplifies into the [entry incomplete]
Right Side:
Ed- Deir Halawi
(235)
Stevernagel, 2DPV 48, H.A. 337-338.
An exceedingly highvantage point, the summit of a range of hills on the to- the considerable ruins of a good sized Rom.-Byz. and med. Arabic town, probably about the size of Halawi which is visible below it. This commands a good view over T. Magheb below us and over the fertils [?] bend of the Wadi Yabis. Gulat Rabad clearly visible on its high hill. The village of Wasane [?] is visible. There are numerous rock-cat hill customs up here, and a square cistern with steps down it like the one on top of Dhaharet el-Husn by Jaloya, frahil and above el-Hamseh. It is 1.8 meters square and gets a glimpse into the Ghor to the SW through the hills.
Below the very summit of the hill, to the east, ia very large dolmen field, broken design [?]. I wonder if this dolman field has anything to do with EB, Tell, Moqlufi
–
Feb. 20, 1943.
Left Side:
The inside of the 1.8 meter square cistern with steps going down its West side is plastered over Byz. potter as the fram for the plaster. About 1/6 of the way from the top we had to dismount and lead the horses it was so steep and rocky. This was a rock cut buriel shaft near there.
Village of Flora visible from here, and Osara, and Jedeiter [?].
MERZABILA
(236)
On a small rise in the hilly country around Kufi Abil, between which and here; on the way have we passed numerous dolmons. Deir Halawi is visible on its great height directly SE of us across the now very steep Wadi Yabis, and the village of Malawi is visible directly to
Right Side:
The S from us, on the other side of the Wadi Yabis.
Below the SW area of the site is a tremendous dolman, still intact. Satebeh which we say yesterday is clearly visible from here. On the N side of the site part of what looks like a BA wall is still standing. The fells found about are anciently terraced on the North side. The sly sherds visible are Byz., about 2 high, the uprights are about 3.2 long, and the cover must be that much in diameter.
The first of it is Batrat es Senan, a rocky rise, on which also are some tumble-down dolmans.
Feb. 20, 1943.
We spent the night in Kufi Abil; and descended to Auf Zeinceti’s tent at Tell el Meqheh with 1.75 kilometers fast walking of the horses
Left Side:
Feb. 20, 1943.
Tell Sleikhat
Stevernagel, ZDPV48, p. A. 341
(see former references)
I convince myself that Abel and others were wrong, and my examination of this site was correct the first time, we came back here today. It is a large, tell-like, completely natural hill. Not a sherd on it, no traces of building outpost of the hills to the East.
Kh. Sleibhat is to the NNE of here, and the village to the NE, about ¾ of a kilometer from Kh. Slakhat.
Tell Abu Aqereb is a low rise inward about ½ kilometer to the NNW below the base of the hill, which towers above it. Tell Hendakuk visible from hilltop.
The long, high, outstanding, isolated hill, oriented n-s, looks like a natural for a tell, but just is naturally not.
Right Side:
On its North side, are some fields, irrigated by Ain Sleikhat. I imagine they were once cultivated by the people of Tell Abu Agaub. On the East side of this great hill is a plain between it and the east hills. To the South not only Tell Hamdakuk but also T. Deir Alla, and the narrowing Ghor is seen,being closed in by the Zor of the Jordan and the Zor of the Zerqa. The top of the hill is fairly flat, but completely rocky- could not have been cultivated. No traces of any walls. No sherds except a few Byz. ones, which can be found in any field almost in the Jordan Valley, and which in this instance came probaby from Kh. Sleilhat. The Qem police post on its hill is quite near here.
Kh. Sleilhat
Stevernagel, 2DPV 48, P.A. 341 is a low rise.
{S in Sheikh Hussein- arrived here at 3:30 P.M. Tell Abu Arbain visible from Tell Sheikh Hamid.}
Left Side:
Tell Zeitim
(236 b)
South of Tell Zeitim is a dolman field and the rocky slopes of the hill opposite it.
Tell Zeitim is a rocky hill with some olive trees on it. Between it and 233c. Zaharet (b) ej-Jur, which is a rocky rise are dolmens.
(166a)
Kh. Sleilhat, a low rise, with Roman, Byz. and med. Arabic sherds overlooking Wadi Sleikhat immediately below it. Rain came down hard, and I had no time to give it a thorough examination. The small village is immediately east of it, which the people of Kh. El-Wahadneh occupy in winter time.
–
—May—
May 4, 1943.
Left Keikbride’s house in Amman at 8:30 A.M., arrived Irbid at 10:30 A.M., via Zerqa and Mafraq. The country side gree, and thousands of sheep and camels out grazing. The grain stands on the whole seem to be good. This countryside east of Irbid to Mofrey is flatish and [entry incomplete]
RAMTHA – about 18-20,000 inhabitants. (with Rashid Hamid of I[?] and Ahmed Atiyeh, chauffeur of Assemar) a large [?] sprawled on and about some hillocks in midst of wide, fairly fertile plains. Ez. Ed-Dis, the director of customs here is going with me. Dependent on agriculture.
El-QESEIR
(237)
on a gently rising hill-top, with a few small foundation ruins, and some cisterns. View on to Remihes-Turnq. And in to Kh. Kheiwneh [?].
Right Side:
The sherds are mostly painted and glazed mediaeval Arabic, with some Byzantine sherds. This is a rather small site. The landscape is rolling, and covered over with growing green. Considerable quantities of sherds. Site completely ploughed over.
KOKALIYEH
(239)
Directly on the Sequian burdee [?]. The dividing pole stands on part of the encountered Byz. and largely med. Arabic site. There are numerous large caves, many of which have caved in. The site is on several small hillocks. Ruins left. Ploughed over. Jers[?] visible from here.
Right Side:
On the hilltop immediately overlooking the Wadi Meddan I saw 7 rectangular rock cut burial shats, and picked up several pieces of Byz. and Arabic pottery. The shafts probably belong to the Byz. pd. The hill slopes down abruptly to the wadi bed, which has pools of rain water in it. The edge of this hill is in Syria. The wadi completely south. The statuins of Moquib and Yed[?] are visible from here. The countryside round about is planted to grow . Roman sherds, including several pieces of siqilllata found. The shafts are probably Rom.-Byz.
Khweviah
(238)
A small, fairly flat topped hill, no ruins, completely ploughed over, caves- some fallen in. Roman-Byz. sherds. Small site in good, rolling, grain country. Teenali visible from here, and police post of Remteh. Good view of seenworking area. Wheat grain here in excellent condition.
Kufi Sleih
(240)
A considerable number of rectangular rock cut shafts. Late Roman and Byz. sherds. From here scenes of rolling heights, covering say a square kilometer, the whole plain of Remtheh is visible. The railway station of Dera is visible
Right Side:
From here. There are flint workings visible, perhaps, but we found no real flints. There are numerous caves around here. This was once a real settlement not a burial place. Deir Waraq [?] visible from here, with also a survey peg on its hill. Between flint pd. And Rom-Byz. pd. On this circle of hills no human workings.
Large numbers of rock cut rectangular shafts on west upper slop near top of hill, in a saddle, before hill descends to road below.
Nothing
Tell Beweib
(240)
Overlooking Wadi Shelaleh, which at this point is not as steep as at Tell es Serian below. The slopes to it from E sides especially are quite gradual. No water in wadi-bed say if you dig in it, water wells up.
The slopes along Wadi Shellaleh are of soft limestone. Natives light it by building fires against it, and it luminates of its own accord, furnishing them with [?]. Numerous pillars of smoke ascending, and smell of burning lime.
A good location for a tell, but we found not a single sherd. It is apparently a natural hill. It is completely ploughed over and planted to wheat.
Right Side:
SAL Village
(248)
On hill. In outer is a high knoll, used a graveyard today. Byz. and med. Arabic sherds found. Remains of large, very strong fortress, on top of the knoll, with remnants of wall especially visible on E and N sides. Iabid Howari Bushra Romta [?] visible from here. The large, wh[?] limestone, round and squarish blocks remind me of ruins of fortress at Mfreq. I should say that originally this place was EI. Parts of Wadi Shelallah visible from here.
Right Side:
This knoll occupies most commanding site in variety of good agricultural area. The foundation blocks are widely rectangular, the site may often all be later than EI, and may possibly late Roman or preferably later. Hard to decide.
ZEIRAQUN
Fairly high knoll, flattish topped completely ploughed over, and planted to wheat and qesinma, [?] no remains. Overlooking Wadi Shellaleh which to North of it begins to become very steep.
No sherds; no caves; not an antiquity site apparently.
Returned to Ramtha late, getting back at 9 P.M. We are in the very nice great house of Mohammed Fawway.
–
May 5, 1943
(242)
Tell RAMITH
Remtha Keteim Isbid, Sal, Khanasium, Beweida [?]. This is a distinct rise, the top of it looking like a tell, but being rather small, about 40 x 40 being oriented roughly E-W. There are cisterns and cave cisterns round about. This occupies a really excellent position.
Right Side:
The entire site is completely ploughed over, and planted t wheat. No ruins left at all. The sherds go from EI to Byz., and there may be a few. On the E side is a large cistern cave. On the N. and NW sides the hill slopes down in gradual stages to the plain of Rawtha. To the E and N and W and S it is surrounded by fertile rolling plains. To the S rise a circular chain of hills on top of which Khanasine stands out, and a slope of which Keteim is located. These hills curve around to E beyond edge of plain. This place is on S. side of asphalt road.
Left side:
Tell Fa’
Stevernagel, Die Adschlese
ZDPV XLVIII, 1925, p.A.354.
Right Side:
Umm el- AZAM SHEMALIYEH
(243)
double site.
On a rolling knoll, covered with cisterns and cave cisterns. Tell Rameth clearly visible, with a rolling plain between. Sherds Byz. and especially painted and glaved med. Arabic with a few remains. Umm el-Azam Jasubi [?] is the same, and really an integral part of it.
TELL FA’
(244)
a real tell on top of a high hill, with the few houses of the village of Fa’ at the base of the tell which is the top of the high hill. Across the plain, and on top of of [sic] a high range of hills towers Khanaseis.
Right Side:
The sherds here are predominantly EI I-II. There are also some Roman to med. Arabic. There are no ruins visible on top. Most of the sherds came from a large hole dug near the SW face of the tell on the hill by the villagers. Sherds and flints also on top and slopes of whole hillside. The tell proper is being used as a graveyard today. Irbid, Remtha, Naimeh visible from here. All the water comes from cisterns. There are some cave cisterns here too. This place is oriented approximately N-S and measures approximately on fairly flat top about 90 x 70 meters.
Right Side:
To the W and N stretch rich plains but particularly to the N. To the SE and ESE beyond a small plain the range of hills close in, which to the S beyond a plain are surrounded by Khanasri
Tell KHANASRI
(245)
A magnificent view from there wonderful vantage point over entire country side. It seems to be a great Roman fortress like at Moshneleh in front of Machaews. Some great foundation stores have been exposed. In center was apparently a tremendously large cistern. The sherds are Roman to
Right Side:
Mediaeval Arabic, with large quantities of sigellata.
There is a [?] at the bottom of the S side, separating it from the hillside rising S of it, and this completely affecting its isolation.
–
Right Side:
HAIAS
MAPIA
Right Side:
.615 Ramthe
.06 Mofrak
.11 Telephone
.32 Amman
May 6, 43 20.000 to Ahmed in Routhe.
Right Side:
I: 6-12 Qeridiyah dolmens.
II: 1-2 dolmen at Qeriyah.
:3-4 MEHBETHAH fallen altar.
:5-7 looking N at Tell Bereirish
:8-9 BA Jerash
:10-11 Rashid Hamid
Left Side:
‘3 ed-Peri
Jornal Jan Bey
In chaig IPC Mofraq
Right Side:
I: 9-11 May 5, 43 looking SW at Tell Ga.
12
II: 1-4 looking S wad Khanasaia
:5-6
Mayb: 7-9 looking SE at T. Rameth
:10-11 looking SE at T.E. dun
May 7
III: 1-2 Tell Safut, looking S.
:3 Ahmed Atrigh
:4-5 Glueck
Left Side:
- Mofrak to Romthe [?] asphalt road, which continues to Syria via Doia.
- Romthe [?] to tense- poor dirt truck. Turns to Kukaliyeh for dirt track.
- There is a dirt track from Ramtha to Irbid.
Right Side:
- Wooden girt – kin gort [?].
- Abu Saud- legbg. [?]
- Refig el-Fellah.
- Mafiag-Irbid asphalt road, narrow bridges. Vehicles over (19). Sanctions on side of road going East, i.e. S. side.
- Dirt road paralleling it on S side.
- Good dirt road from Mafrak to Jerash.
- Birt track from Magraq to Pidunt and South.
[cover]
Alphabetisch Namenbeste und Inhaltsubersicht zer Beschriebund des Adschlün [?] SDPV 49, p. 274
of 2DPV 1924, p.191f
1925, p.1f, 201f,
1926 p.f.
The pagenation sefeis ite A – [?] page number [?].
Schumacher, G.o. Stevermagel C.
Namesslaste des anordlichess Ostyordanlandes
Leipzig 1926.
Rashid Hamid Ha-uksch
May 6, 1943
REMTHA
(241)
In a [?] for a cistern at the bottom of the E side of the series of merging hillocks on which modern Remtha is located we found clear EI I-II sherds. This is probably then RAMOTH-GILEAD, although Tell Tameth may possibly
Right Side:
Be a competitor for the site. It becomes obvious now, especially from our experience with Tell Fa’ yesterday, that practically all of the occupied sites of today, located on hills over ascent sites. In a few years all of Tell Fa’ will likewise be covered with houses and graves and manure heaps, and nothing will be visible of the ancient remains. Ramtha is a country and boundary center as [entry incomplete]
Right Side:
I Kings 17, 1
Perhaps this verse read originally [Hebrew script] or perhaps [Hebrew script]
- Brook Cherith may be the eastern reaches of Wadi Yabes, or one of the brooks flowing into it near its eastern end.
- verse 4 shows that the Brook Cherith must have been a perennial stream.
- verses 4 and 5 that it emptied into the Jordan.
- verse 7 tells us the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land. May the names [script] is an afterthought to explain the drying up of cutting off the water
Right Side:
3a. Word [script] used frequently for cutting off of water.
Cf. II Kings 2, 8.
Joshua 3, 16.
Rujm Sela
On top of a hill. Absolutely nothing. 2 green shelters. Dirt track made by trucks building house.
RIHAB
(246)
a large Byzantine site with 7 (?) [sic] churches. On the E side, below it is a fairly large Bisbeh, containing considerable water. This is on top of a hill, overlooking the descent of way to Mofreq.
Left Side:
Edun
(?!) ZDPV 49, pp. A432-433
Terfel 59 (?!?)
Right Side:
TEIDUN
(247)
A large, strongly fortified Roman-Byz. site, commanding a wonderful view over the Mafraq plain, and over Mafrak. It is in the midst of a grain growing district. Numerous caves and cave cisterns on the slopes and one cistern visible of top. Apparently about 55 metres in diameter. Area enclosed by wall, with houses built against inner face of wall. Numerous fallen building blocks near outer circumference of flat top. To the S and SW to SE the hill top begins to meet rising hills. Sherds only Roman and Byz. Looks as if it
–
Right Side:
might have been an earlier site once, but I could find no sherds earlier than Roman. We are in the Beni Hassan country. House foundations all on top and in center of top also. Siqillate sherds.
May 7, 1943
Arrived Jeresh last night. Leaving for Jerusalem via Amman this morning.
Left Side:
Spring of Umm es-Sreiyit.
Right Side:
Also at NW corner is another large cave cistern
–
—June—
Right Side:
June 19, 1943
Kh. Shereiyit
(262)
Overlooking from the W to WNW the Ain Shereiyit. It is on a bench overlooking the small wadi Majar in which there is no cultivation at present, the harvest being over. The sides of the wadi are cultivated. This is a small, much ruined Rom.-Byz. fortress, with one fairly large cave cistern in the center of the site. Another large cistern is on the W side, with a rectangular entrance from which side there is an ascent to the hills above.
On the W side I saw a large block of a broke columlarima [?].
The sherds are Rom.-Byz.
Right Side:
There are remains of rooms and strong stone walls of this fairly small site which is about 21 meters square (?) [sic]. This place overlooks a junction of two small wudyan.
el- Meshetta
(263)
On a fairly large, completely isolated hill top on the W side of wadi in which the strong spring of Ain Tannur rises. The hilltop extends from NW to SE, and slopes gently towards the wudyan which surround it. The soil from the very top has been washed away exposing the bare rocks. A gentle slope leads towards the edge of the hill, overlooking Wadi Jannur. This area is completely ploughed over. Careful search revealed fair quantity of very worn MBI and perhaps some earlier sherds, and also some Roman-Byz. sherds.
Left Side:
ZDPV XLVIII, p. A360 wad et-tannur
Cajun et-tannur
Right Side:
We are in sight of the high tell- like hill on W side of Zerqa on which Jebba [?] village is located. Village of Kedi-Herd [?] visible on top its very high hill immediately W above us.
Kh. Tannur
(264)
On E side of spring another large isolated hill, terraced, with Roman-byz. (?) [sic] terrace walls visible at bottom, near spring. Some Byz. (Rom.) sherds found. There is some little cultivation in wadi bed S of spring.
At one time in EB-MB, probably EI, and cont. Rom.-Byz. The sides of this wadi were intensely cultivated and inhabited.
Left Side:
ZDPV XLVIII, p. A 360 hadschar el-mansub Tafel 60.
Right Side:
Kh. Mansub
(265)
Another fairly flat topped hill, completely cultivated, with there being definitely EB sherds, but terribly worn, and almost no ruins etc., to be found. On the E sides and slopes of this site are dolmans and the stone called Hajar Mansub apparently every hillside and patic [?] the fairly flat tops intensely cultivated in Bronze Age. These BA sites benefited from waters of two good springs, -Ain Riyashi and Ain Tammen. This hill too completely isolated.
Left Side:
MEHBETHAH ->
Right Side:
(266)
On East side is a small plain between it and the hill beyond it and at the N end of it in the Hajn Mansub.
Looking across onto Meshetta from here, one can see how most of the earth has been washed away from the top and sides, exposing the low rock. This is a process which has been accelerated in modern times.
(266)
At the very SSE end of the long hill on the N part of which Kh. Mansub is located are the remains of a large Roman building called Mehbethah.
Right Side:
There are several buildings, on a ledge, below a rock face by the very S end of the hill. The SE building is very solidly built, with large Herodian style blocks. It commands the Wadi Mansub, at the N end of which the Haji Mansub stands. In the rock face against which those 3 or 4 large buildings stand is a large cave-cistern (?)
On the ground, in front of the main building, which may have been a temple, is a fallen altar. This present building
Left Side:
Kh. Abaia is SW of here, about 1.5 kilometers away. Julia [?] is visible to SSW on S side of Zerqa on top of its high hill
Right Side:
Is obviously rebuilt, and may have been turned into a church from a Roman temple.
Tell el-Berevidh
(267)
about 2-3 kilometers SW of Kh. Mansub oriented NE by SW.
Nebi Herd is NNW of here on top of its high hill. The Wadi Tannur bends around the NW side, going SW to join the Zerqa. Immediately below the steep NW side is a waterfall, some 20 meters high, which falls into Jannen [?].
It is a large hill, occupying an excellent strategic kozit[?]
Right Side:
This is a completely isolated, large, flat topped hill, with a rujm at the top near the NW end. It is completely ploughed over. The sherds have been so churned about, that it is practically impossible to find any on it. A few we found are EI, and one looks like MB I.
About on the same level with it, on W side of Wadi Tannur and S. of below Nebi Hud is the village of Reshaidah. The hill Jell Bereiridh [?] is connected by a narrow saddle at its ENE and to hill E of it.
Left Side:
ZDPV XLVIII, p.A360 el-‘abbara
Right Side:
Kh. D’Abbarah
(268)
Opposite, SE of Resheideh. This is a Rom. Byz. site on a fairly high, isolated hill, sides ploughed over, Rom-Byz. sherds, few modern houses, remains of older Rom-Byz buildings. This place about ¾ to a kilometer [?] of Tell el-Berevidh. There are dolmans near the top of this hill.
Left Side:
ZDPV XLVIII, p. A. 361 tell eschun.
Right Side:
T. Ayeisum
(269)
After a very stiff half hour or 40 min climb on horseback from Wadi Jannen below, we got to the site, where are few foundation remains of a Roman village. Great walls marked off [?] garden- or field areas on the W side of the hill. This must be one of the highest hills around here. We are surrounded above Nebi Hud, Jerash is visible from here. The Zerqa is visible. Kh. Abara and Tell Bereridh visible and the other sites we have visited
Right Side:
In the Wadi Tannur. Near the S side of the hill-top is a partly rock [?] bukeh, about 8 meters square, the top of which is formed apparently originally out of a cave, of which the 8 meters square area is only a part. Numerous Roman sherds and loose mosaics.
One can’t help feeling [?] philosophical seeing all these great field and garden walls, and wondering at the tremendous efforts to fence off as if for ever a piece of earth for their buildings
Left Side:
It is immediately above the source of Ain Riyashi, where on the slopes plentiful EB sheds were found, including a plain ledge-handle.
Nebi Hud visible on top of its high hill directly to west.
The khielet Ryshasi of the Rom-Byzantine pol. I described some pages back is immediately on the W side of the spring, on a rise above it. Beyond it is a plain reaching for about a kilometer till it somes to hills.
Right Side:
Er-Rijaschi Ajun er-rijashi, wad el-madsharr
p. A. 360. ZDPV XLVIII, Kh. Riyashi (BA)
(270)
A large, low, terraced, flat topped hill, completely ploughed over covered with standing grain. Sherds churned up but [?] EB (14BIO) same as other day this Wadi Tannin.
There are two small rujm on the top terrace about 25 meters apart. The site is oriented ENE by WSW.
–
—October—
Oct. 12, 1943
Amman to Inlud[?] ira Mafiah 8-10 A.M.
With A.S. Kirklid[?] SKAIN, p. A408, ZDPV49
124 Sakain on top of hill, isolated, with abandoned village on top of it. One Byz. sherd. Overlooks Tell Abu Fukhai, with water in it. On S. of it is Wadi al-ziad, and on North Wadi Ziglab. Ghor visible[?] to west.
Gufein, Inbeh visible from here.
WADI SILAB, p.. A409, 2DPV 49
125 Tell bu el-Fukhar
Overlooking confluence of Wadi Mahehah with Wadi Ziglab. It is a high, fortified, terraced knoll on a high once cultivated completely isolated hill Ain Maheshah is north of it, near the top of the slopes, and the beginning of Wadi Mehasheh. Wadi Ziglab has a perennial stream in t. On top of knoll, are ruins of large bldgs., occupying area about 50 metres square. Sherds Rom.-Byz. with few EB? [sic] And EI?? [sic] Site commands view down Wadi to Ghor.
On ENE side is a small saddle connector to hill above it. On hillside east of it and overlooking Wadi Ziglab are caves and tombs.
There is an orchard of pomegranates on the bottom of site, under top of knoll.
AMIDAT 126
Overlooking the Wadi Abu Zayed. Sloping from annually terraced, completely ploughed over slope. On top is a flat bench leading them to fairly lead plateau area. No ruins except terrace remains, of large un[?] stones, and one terrace wall of [?] stones, which may be EI, while others are certainly EB. In E and W sides are small wadiyan. The Wadi Zead has a perennial stream.
Sherds are EB and Roman. Near top of small E wadi are caves. At bottom of Wadi Ziyah is Ain Bida.
The slope of hill goes also westward, and commands way to Ghor.
Wadi ABU ZEIAD, ZDPV 49, p. 420
On WNW side, lower slopes, immediately above spring, are several broken capitals 60 cm[?] radius, and numerous Byz. shards.
On the W. slope, from top, near W. wadi are numerous cut, fallen stones. At bottom, below road and above wadi bed are remains of capitals.
127 Tell el-Cazia (Tell pr-Reteif)
I’m not sure these names are correct
Single houses on top. On N side of Wadi Abu Ziyad. EI shards on hill, rimmed over Wadi with its perennial stream.
At very beginning of sudden broadening out and sloping of hills leading down to Ghor. Culturable plain on N and W sides.
About a kil. to W. of it, on a small rise jutting out of plain as another kil., with a house by the side of it.
This site here commands view of plain of Ghor.
128 Merga’ah
Very large Rom.-Byz., and especially med. Arabic site with painted and glazed sherds in large quantities. On N side of Wadi Abu Ziyad, on hill (small) N.E of small village of Muqa’ah and about a kil. W. of Tell el-Aziah. It is at E. end of plain of Ghor Abu-Ziyad. The Wadi Abu Ziyad disappears here, and levels out, only its stream continues.
MERKA’
WAD ABU ZIJAD, p. A408, ZDPV 49