A Late Hellenistic–Early Roman Fortress at Khirbat Mudayna as-Saliya, Central Jordan. (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ji, Chang-Ho
• Is Part Of: Palestine exploration quarterly. Volume 152:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Desert fortress -- Hasmonean -- Nabatean -- Herod -- central Transjordan -- late hellenistic -- Early Roman -- Alexander Jannaeus; Excavations (Archaeology) -- Palestine -- Periodicals; Palestine -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Fouilles (Archéologie) -- Palestine -- Périodiques; Palestine -- Antiquités -- Périodiques; Archeologie; 5.225; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1080/00310328.2020.1759297
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-0328

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Mudayna as-Saliya is a fortress site at the summit of an isolated promontory near the eastern end of Wadi Mujib, central Jordan. Archaeological surveys of the site have exposed potential evidence of Iron Age and classical period use with its occupational zenith in the late Hellenistic-early Roman period. The ruin on the surface is remarkably similar in architectural and hydrological design to the fortress of Machaerus. This paper, based on available survey data, suggests that the Hasmoneans were responsible for the construction of the fortress at Mudayna as-Saliya, which was reused by the Nabateans during the early Roman period. Finding a potential Hasmonean desert fortress on the desert fringe of eastern Transjordan was unexpected, and it might have significant ramifications for the study of Hasmonean, Herodian, and Nabatean kingdoms in central Jordan.