L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Dr. Ir. Mark Driessen Leiden University

Dr. Fawzi Abudanah Al-Hussein Bin Talal University

Udhruh Archaeological Project

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Southern sector

limes Arabicus: from Wadi al-

Hasa to Red Sea

→ ten castella +

two legionary

fortresses: Udhruh

and Aqaba.

Southern sector

Arabian limes

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Udhruh: Roman legionary

fortress (castra)

15 km E of Wadi Musa

(Petra)

246x207x248x177m

= 4.7 ha

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Aerial Photo: David Kennedy

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Aerial Photo: David Kennedy

- Possible Nabatean origin - Roman legionary fortress - Transformation into Byzantine/Islamic town - Use/possible continuity into later periods

Udhruh

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Udhruh: legionary fortress/town 4.7 ha

Small excavation trenches 2.0 – 3.5 m till bedrock

> 100.00 m³.

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Udhruh, Jordan

Field Surveys (international: Jordan & Dutch students) Archaeological research aims: - I) Collection dateable cq. diagnostic artefacts to obtain grip on

settlement continuity in and around Udhruh. - II) Encountered structures and systems will provide

information about the social, economic, infrastructural and military embedding of the site in the surrounding area (before starting a time-consuming, labour-intensive and expensive excavation).

- III) Field surveys can give insights in the local, regional and supraregional functions of Udhruh in a diachronic comparative framework.

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

(Nabatean) funerary monuments

(Petra) that represent the ‘earthly

soul’ of a deceased person (‘nefeshes’).

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Aerial Photo: David Kennedy

Field Surveys around Udhruh (start 25km²) Aerial photographs, satellite images and preliminary

investigations of the area surrounding Udhruh, show not only a differentiation in geological zones, but also make clear that the antique landscape - although in (large) parts undisturbed - was

affected by different natural and anthropogenic processes.

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

- These natural and anthropogenic processes will affect the quality of retrieved data and artefacts.

→ Describing and mapping the (geo-)morphology in detail.

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

- The spatial and chronological distribution patterns of archaeological remains are important research criteria.

- All (possible) archaeological structures are categorised and described in full detail. Their locations/dimensions are pinpointed by means of GPS.

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Insights in the strategic, infrastructural and socio-economic

embedding of the Roman castra and the later

Byzantine/Islamic town of Udhruh (Adrou/ Augustopolis) in

the local/regional surroundings.

Foci: 1) Traces of possible canabae legionis (socio-

economic facilitating military-civil settlement and installations that surround castra (NW-limes).

2) Connection road net; with ‘Via Nova Traiana’ and ancient road to Nabatean capital Petra (15 km W).

3) Supply, storage, outlet water system(s). 4) Network of military communication lines through

higher positioned towers and fortlets and related sight lines.

5) Location and areal of surrounding necropoli

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Several hectares of stone quarries NW of Udhruh (Roman-Byzantine periods)

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Annual rainfall 100 mm/yr

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Aerial Photo: David Kennedy

‘Qanat’, water conservation and irrigated field systems (SE of Udhruh)

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Qanat (kārīz: Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan & central Asia; kahan: Iran; khettara: Marocco; galería: Spain; falaj:

United Arab Emirates & Oman; Kahn of foggara/fughara: North Africa).

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Aerial Photo: David Kennedy

Aquaduct

Reservoir

(50*50m)

Irrigated fields

(20 Ha ≈ 50 acres)

Petra papyrus 25 Request for transfer of taxation concerning sale of plot of land.

Concerns 1.111 iugerum of well-irigated, cultivable land

around Augustopolis (Udhruh). Dated 30 January, 559 CE. (from: Petra Papyri III (2007), 79ff)

OSL-dating mortars of Qanats, Channels, Aquaducts and Reservoirs

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Key interests (internationalisation, interdisciplinary

plus sustainable approach with different sets of

stakeholders)

- Archaeological research: LU – AHbTU long term joint venture -> exchange students

- Heritage management: Department of Antiquities Jordan – Other Partners

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Udhruh is one of the most complete and best

preserved Roman (legionary) fortresses!!!

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Key interests (internationalisation, interdisciplinary

plus sustainable approach with different sets of

stakeholders)

- Archaeological research: LU – AHbTU long term joint venture -> exchange students

- Heritage management: Department of Antiquities Jordan – Other Partners

- Sustainable Tourism: DOA – Cultural Geography Group of Wageningen University – Local, Regional Partners & Local Population

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Archaeology & Tourism

Petra (Wadi Musa)

Jordan

Al-Khazneh

(the Treasury)

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

BBC’s 50 Places

to visit before you die

1 The Grand Canyon USA

2 Great Barrier Reef Australia

3 Florida USA

4 South Island New Zealand

5 Cape Town South Africa

6 Golden Temple India

7 Las Vegas USA

8 Sydney Australia

9 New York USA

10 Taj Mahal India

11 Canadian Rockies Canada

12 Uluru Australia

13 Chichen Itza Mexico

14 Machu Picchu Peru

15 Niagara Falls Canada / USA

16 Petra Jordan

17 The Pyramids Egypt

18 Venice Italy

19 Maldives Maldives

20 Great Wall China

21 Victoria Falls Zambia / Zimbabwe

22 Hong Kong Hong Kong

23 Yosemite National Park USA

24 Hawaii USA

www.new7wonders.com

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

- Vision The Petra College of Tourism and Archaeology at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University will be recognized:

- Nationally, as a premier bachelors granting, interdisciplinary cultural heritage programmes. - Regionally, as a model educator of students demanded by a growing and increasingly diverse job market for archaeologists,

tourism planners and managers and hotel services specialists. - At AHU, in its exemplary role in catalyzing both interdisciplinary and international collaborative research and education

programmes.

- Mission The mission of the College of Archaeology, Tourism and Hotel Management at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, is to provide a holistic foundation to the study of cultural heritage through the three major subfields that include, archaeology, tourism, and hotel management. This is achieved through a rigorous but balanced curriculum that encompasses the current theoretical perspectives and methodologies of the discipline.

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Petra –Wadi Musa - “Cash cow” Jordan - 3000-5000 visitors/day (2010) - Wishes → Dispersion/spread of visitors Longer stay Regional archeo-touristic experience (satellite sites) Sustainable community-based

tourism

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

Key interests (internationalisation,

interdisciplinary plus sustainable approach)

- Archaeological research: LU – AHbTU long term joint venture -> exchange students

- Heritage management: Department of Antiquities Jordan – LU – AHbTU – other partners

- Sustainable Tourism: DOA – Cult. Geog. WU - Sustainable approach → (possible) interests local

population Udhruh (work/income through tourism and improvement of agriculture)

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

- Co mmo n si t e s o r a l h i st o r y

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

L e i d e n Un i v e r si t y . T h e

u ni v e r si t y t o d i sc o v e r .

For questions etc.: m.j.driessen@arch.leidenuniv.nl

fawziabudanh@yahoo.co.uk

Thank you for your attention