Khirbat es-Sar

Khirbat es-Sar

Khirbet es-Sar
Khirbet Sarah
Khirbet Sara
Khirbat Sara

• Project name:

  Non-invasive research at Khirbat es-Sar

• Type of site:

  Settlement, sanctuary, defensive site(?)

  Location:

  Jordan
  Western suburb of modern Amman
  Ancient Ammonitis (southern Gilead)

  Dating:

  From the Iron Age (8th–7th century BC) to the 14th–15th century AD

History of research:

Dates of PCMA mission’s work:

2018–

Type of research:

Non-invasive research and survey

Directors:

Jolanta Młynarczyk
Mariusz Burdajewicz

Co-operating institutions:

– Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw
– Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
– Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Description of the site and research:

Khirbat es-Sar, the ancient name of which remains unknown, lies in the western suburb of modern Amman. Due to its location on the edge of a plateau (972 m a.s.l.) commanding a broad view to the south and west, it must have been an important strategic and trading point on the road linking the Jordan Valley with Rabbat Ammon-Philadelphia-Amman. Travelers from the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century mentioned or shortly described the site, but no field excavations were conducted there. It was included in the JADIS database (no. 2215017) and the new information system MEGA-Jordan (nos 3007 and 11304: two elements of the same site).

Many architectural relics have been preserved in Khirbat es-Sar, among them a magnificent architectural complex standing on the highest point of the terrain. It includes a square building, probably erected in the Iron Age, and a large arcaded courtyard added in the Roman period (2nd–3rd century AD), as evidenced by the characteristic material and building technique as well as the style of architectural decoration.

The PCMA mission conducted the first comprehensive reconnaissance in Khirbat es-Sar in March 2018. It included mapping all architectural relics visible on the surface and carrying out geophysical research using the electric resistivity method. As a result, the first complete map of the site was created. It substantially amended the only known plan of the temple complex, published in 1909 by H.C. Butler. It turned out that in front of the square cella of the temple (about 20 by 20 m) was a vestibule located on a lower level, which in turn was preceded by an even lower-lying square courtyard (31 by 31 m) with stairs leading to the vestibule. The courtyard had two side aisles, separated from the central part by two rows of arcades (seven in each row). The whole complex was aligned east-west with the entrance from the east.

During the field season, the team made a drawing and photographic documentation of the architectural elements, which were found mostly in the temple complex. Moreover, based on the collected surface finds, mainly pottery, it was possible to determine that Khirbat es-Sar functioned from the Late Iron Age to the late medieval period.

From the historical point of view, Khirbat es-Sar remains a mystery. It could be hypothetically linked with one of the enigmatic places mentioned in written sources, such as Jazer, Birta Ammanitis, or Beth-Fogor, but only further excavation work in the temple complex can provide an archaeological basis for its identification.

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