Deir Burak

BAP057 JADIS2220.032

We sought a site along the north-south watershed to sample, in case the Roman border had run along this topographic feature rather than continuing east to the Wadi Warran. North of Ras Herqala only Kh Fara/Hashemiya had been sampled in 2006. There are very few identified sites in this region of Jordan, surely due to the lack of intensive field survey in the area.

5x5 surface pick up

Although Deir Burak was known to be an Islamic period site, like Mahrama, Byzantine material had been reported.The survey of this site was conducted by the BAP team on the 16th and 17th December 2008. The site is located on the top of a hill, approximately 10km west of the modern town of Shatana. The southern edge, and around the lower slope of the site, have been impacted upon by modern agricultural cultivation and the site has overall disturbance from robber holes.

Wall preserved above door/window height

The site contains extensive Mamluk period wall lines across the hilltop with concentrations on both sides of a modern field wall. Within these areas of concentration are walls preserved to ten or more courses and have examples of vaulted doorways and windows below the modern ground surface. There are several caves and cisterns also around the hilltop. Initial survey of the site indicated surface pottery concentrations on the slopes of the hill downhill from the visible wall lines.

5x5 surface pick up