Ḫirbet ez-Zeraqōn: Publication of Early Bronze Age Fortifications

Support to Finalize the Figures and Plates of the Volume

Siegfried Mittmann (Tübingen); Moawiah Ibrahim (Amman)

Figurine

Figurine

Ḫirbet ez-Zeraqōn was a small urban settlement (ca. 7 ha) of the Early Bronze Age II – III period in Northern Jordan. It was excavated from 1984 to 1994 by S. Mittmann (Tübingen) and M. Ibrahim (Irbid). Two large areas were investigated, the Lower City (with domestic dwellings) and the Upper City (with a palace and a temple district).

The settlement was surrounded by a 4 – 5m broad fortification wall. Of special interest are two city gates. The architecture and stratigraphy of the gates is very complex. They attest to (beside their fortificational function) aspects of civic life. The chambers of the gate feature benches and magazines, showing that the access to the city was controlled. Thanks to the financial support of the Deutscher Palästina-Verein all illustrations and plans were prepared for the final publication of the fortifications in the Upper City by Khaled Douglas.

Further Information
  • J. Kamlah, Der Zeraqōn-Survey 1989 – 1994. Mit Beiträgen zur Methodik und geschichtlichen Auswertung archäologischer Oberflächenuntersuchungen in Palästina, ADPV 27/1 (Wiesbaden 2000).
  • H. Genz, Die frühbronzezeitliche Keramik von Hirbet ez-Zeraqon. Mit Studien zur Chronologie und funktionalen Deutung frühbronzezeitlicher Keramik der südlichen Levante, ADPV 27/2 (Wiesbaden 2002).
  • Kh. Douglas, Die Befestigungen der Unterstadt von Hirbet ez-Zeraqon im Rahmen der frühbronzezeitlichen Fortifikation, ADPV 27/3 (Wiesbaden 2007).
  • H. Genz, Ritzverzierte Knochenhülsen des dritten Jahrtausends im Ostmittelmeerraum. Ein Beitrag zu den frühen Kulturverbindungen zwischen Levante und Ägäis, ADPV 31 (Wiesbaden; 2003).
  • S. Riehl, Archaeobotany at the Early Bronze Age Settlement of Hirbet ez-Zeraqon. A Preliminary Report, in: ZDPV 120 (2004), 101 – 122.

Further projects funded by the Society

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