Tor Hanna

BAP051 JADIS2319.037

Ain Jinna (Engenna) was mentioned by Eusebius as a site in Arabia. For the purposes of comparisons, BAP needed a site that was clearly within the distribution area of Arabia. Mittmann’s description is very poor, and relatively little modern work has been undertaken in the town. The modern town of Ain Jinna is extensive. However, Mr Mirwan al-Gdah of the Department of Antiquity’s Ajloun office showed us a small site east of, and up a steep slope from, the modern town. This information was crucial in establishing a sampling point in Ain Jinna.

A rock cut shaft grave

The site of Tor Hanah (BAP051) is located on a spur of approximately 900 metres overlooking the modern olive groves and town of Ain Jinna to the west. The site appears to not have been impacted upon by modern construction or agricultural practices and, in recent times, has probably only been used for grazing.

Team members at work

Survey work on the site, by the BAP team, was conducted between 8th and 11th November 2008. The site was revisited on 18th November 2008 to construct a site map. An initial survey of the site was conducted by walking transects with spacing of 5 metres in order to locate concentrations of pottery and ancient structures. The survey indicated a concentration of Roman/Byzantine pottery, associated with intact and disturbed wall lines, located on the spur at approximately 900 metres. Several rock-cut features were also found in this area along the northern edge of the spur and to the west of the wall lines. Below the northern edge of the spur numerous rock-cut features including cisterns, basins, graves and a tomb were discovered. These structures were also associated with Roman/Byzantine pottery. On raised ground to the east a rock-cut structure for the processing of agricultural products was noted