Archaeological survey at Khirbet Mastarah reveals clues to past human activity

AMMAN — Khirbet Mastarah is situated 8 kilometres north of Jericho and the site is land-locked between a small hill in the south and the beginning of the foothills in the northwest. 

Most of the area is covered with a high quantity of large pebbles of limestone, chert and flint stones, as well as pottery sherds. It is likely the site was selected for habitation also because of its convenient flat topography, while the stones were brought to the site from the wadi below.

An archaeological team operated in June 2017 and found cooking pots from the Early Bronze Age, Iron Age and Mamluk periods, jars from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.

These finds show the continuous occupation of the site, while others include, " A flat roof tile fragment [tegula] which dates to the Roman period, possibly similar in shape to Roman Legion roof tiles from Jerusalem,” said Professor of History and Religion from Averrett University Ralph Hawkins. 

"It is somewhat surprising to find a roof tile, even a surface find fragment, in such an isolated settlement," said Hawkins, adding that this indicates the tiles had secondary use, possibly as lids. 

Regarding the stone items, they include a vessel, ground-stone and rubbers. 

"These grinding stones are also non-indicative chronologically, with similar forms appearing from the Early Bronze through to the Byzantine periods at least. They indicate, however, the consumption of cereals at the site, possibly some grown locally,” the professor said.

“Although basalt implements such as this are heavy, they were probably carried from place to place, since basalt cannot be found in this region," Hawkins explained, noting that two spherical objects are probably pestles, hammers or sling-shots from the Roman-Byzantine Period.

The stone piles or cairns located in the south-western part of the site may represent a later activity related to the preparation of the area for agricultural activities and terracing, since they overlie a layer with Roman-Byzantine sherds in it.

However, they may date to a similar period as the structures, and may have been used together. It should be noted that some evidence for agriculture or grain processing was found at the site, Hawkins said.

The first question that arises is why the structures are so empty of any finds attesting to human activity (pottery, bones etc.). One possibility is that the structures, which are comprised of walls with only a single course of stones, were the foundations for huts or tents. 

"These were inhabited for a very short time, possibly several weeks or months during the year, and then deserted [altogether, or until the next wet season?]. The artefacts were all taken by the inhabitants when they left and the floor was cleaned.”

“If that were the case, however, we might still expect to find at least a small number of finds representing the residents’ garbage; in particular, some animal bones, if meat was consumed, and remains of broken pottery vessels," Hawkins suggested.

Another option is that the structures are all enclosure fences and were used exclusively for corralling animals, probably herds of sheep and goats belonging to the pastoral population of the site. 

The animals lived and slept here, but animal bones are absent, since meat was not processed or consumed here, and dead animals were promptly removed to areas outside the site.

"In this case, there would be no artefacts, since the people probably lived in tents outside the area of the enclosures, maybe in the flatter areas of the site," the scholar speculated.

Hawkins added that further excavation of the structures and terrace as well as possible Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) analysis for dating them may shed light on ancient irrigation methods in a rather remote area of the Jordan Valley.