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CHARACTERIZATION AND PROVENANCE STUDY OF MARBLE FROM UDHRUH,

SOUTHERN JORDAN

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 Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8
Copyright © 2019 MAA
Open Access. Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

DOI:

CHARACTERIZATION AND PROVENANCE STUDY

OF MARBLE FROM UDHRUH, SOUTHERN JORDAN
Mansour Shqiarat1, Hani Alnawafleh2, Fawzi Abudanah1
1Department of Archaeology, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an-Jordan P.O. Box 99 Postal Code 71111, Jordan
2Department of Mining Engineering, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an-Jordan P.O.Box 20. Postal Code 71111,
Jordan

Received: 24/10/2018
Accepted: 02/02/2019 Corresponding author: M. Shqairat ([email protected]; [email protected])

ABSTRACT
This paper analyses and discusses marble found at the Roman site of Udhruh in southern Jordan. Marble is
highly valued in Roman culture, and while its use in architecture was widespread across the empire, there
were only a relatively few high quality sources. Southern Jordan was not one of these, and so Udhruh’s mar-
ble was sufficiently highly regarded to be transported into the region from distant sources. Marble from the
site was studied and then sampled followed by petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical investigation
techniques to identify the possible source of marble. Results indicate that Udhruh’s marble is quite hard cal-
citic marble exhibits exhibit xenoblastic texture, and the chemical composition indicates marble quarries in
Greece with a probable contribution from Petra.

KEYWORDS: Udhruh, Petra, Roman Empire, Marble provenance, Trade relations, Quarry.

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8

2 M. SHQIARAT et al

1. INTRODUCTION ence of a Christian community. Throughout the sub-

sequent Islamic periods, Udhruh was an urban cen-
It is difficult to imagine Roman civilization with-
tre according to historical and archaeological
out marble. It was used in statues, monuments, re-
sources. In the early twentieth century, the eastern
liefs, and inscriptions. Preferences for various kinds
side of the fortress became the core of a newly-
of marble changed through time, a result of the in-
established traditional village. In the 2008-2009 sea-
fluence of local traditions, transportation, economic
sons of archaeological excavations by the Depart-
conditions, and aesthetic tastes. Studies of the identi-
ment of Archaeology at Al-Hussein Bin Talal Uni-
fication of marble provenances can thus reveal much
versity, marble was discovered in an area which
about the history, trade, technology and aesthetics of
yielded significant material culture and architectural
both the Romans and the Greeks. The multidiscipli-
remains. Given the site’s history of continuous occu-
nary study of the various aspects of Roman and
pation for almost 2,000 years, the marble could date
Greek valuations and use of marble is a growing
to any of the aforementioned periods. Identification
field in classical studies. Geochemists and geologists
could not rely solely on visual inspection, but re-
are able to determine the sources of marble, and ar-
quired detailed scientific analysis.
chaeologists are studying the changing patterns of
The marble traded in the Mediterranean region
use and importation, including how the improve-
obtained from different sources. While the most
ment in quarrying techniques and the preliminary
common source of green banded marble was
dressing of the marble influenced the final shape of
Carystia, Creece (Cipollino Verde) (Sutherland and
the artifacts made from it.
Sutherland 2002; Lazzarini 2007), Al-Bashaireh and
Historians now understand how quarry organiza-
Al-Housan (2015) found that the marble used in
tion and bureaucracy controlled marble production
chancel screens of Byzantine churches in Rihab,
and trade, while art historians can tell how the tech-
north of Jordan, is mainly obtained from Procon-
niques and styles of sculpture were affected by the
nesos with minor sources from Docimium and Tur-
physical characteristics of the raw material. Engi-
key. Abu-Jaber et al. (2012) discussed the marble
neers and architects too are interested in both the
sources at Qasr al-Bint and the Colonnaded Street
techniques used to quarry marble, and its use in
baths in Nabataean Petra, and concluded that such
building construction (Herz and Waelkens, 1988).
marbles are most likely to have been imported from
Rome’s early Augustan-era demand for marble was
several places - Thasos, Penteli, Proconnesos, and
satisfied by the Luna quarries on the Italian penin-
Docimium in Greece. This evidence throws light on
sula, although soon more distant quarries in the
the trade relations of the time and also helps with
Mediterranean were being exploited (Ward-Perkins
understanding the phasing of marble use at Udhruh
et al 1965). Marble supplied to Palestine during this
and the range of possible sources.
time primarily originated in the quarries of Asia
Minor, especially Ntanxxara and Afyan, while 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Greek marbles were much more rare (Fischer 1988).
2.1 SITE LOCATION
The evidence presented here appears to belong to
one of these rare sites. The ruins of the fortress can be seen on the edge of
Udhruh was a Roman legionary fortress in south- the modern road between Udhruh and Ma’an.
ern Jordan, and lies about 15 km east of Petra and Topographically, the site was located on a gentle
approximately 25 km northwest of Ma’an (Fig. 1). It slope at the top of Wadi Udhruh, and is almost en-
was abandoned during the 4th century AD, but the circled by a series of hills: Tell Jraideh lies northeast,
associated settlement flourished into the Byzantine, Tell Udhruh (Dubais) east, Tell Abara (Abu Ar’a)
and early and late Islamic periods. In the Byzantine southwest and with two hills to the south and south-
era, a church was constructed outside the walls of east (Killick, 1986; 1987a; 1987b; Shqiarat et. al. 2011;
the fortress, near the southwestern corner tower, and Abudanah et. al. 2010a; 2010b; 2010c).
within the curtain walls evidence confirms the exist-

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8

CHARACTERIZATION AND PROVENANCE STUDY OF MARBLE FROM UDHRUH, SOUTHERN JORDAN 3

Figure 1: Location of Udhruh Marble site.

2.2 EXCAVATIONS AT UDHRUH The 2008 season focused on an area inside the for-
tress on the eastern side along the curtain wall of the
Since 2005 the Department of Antiquities Office at
fortress. It also lies between two interval towers and
Ma'an has been carrying out technical work at
parallel to a two-room traditional house built on the
Udhruh including restoration of some walls and
external face of the fortress’s perimeter wall. It had
clearing the rubble and dump outside the curtain
the smallest quantity of debris and was relatively
wall of the Roman fortress. In 2008 and 2009, Al-
flat. At the beginning of the 2009 season one area
Hussein Bin Talal University and the Department of
(02) was chosen for excavation. Towards the end of
Antiquities agreed to conduct a joint project of exca-
the project, the team decided to excavate the interval
vations at the site. The main purpose of the project
tower which is contiguous to the excavation area,
was to train the archaeology students at Al-Hussein
and it was excavated as an open area. This area was
Bin Talal University on the methods and techniques
located inside the fortress on the eastern side along
of archaeological excavations. It was also hoped that
the curtain wall and very close to it. Five squares,
these investigations would reveal important infor-
4×4m each, were planned for excavation. The eastern
mation regarding the site's history (Fig.2). Each
line of baulks was located almost in the middle of
fieldwork team consisted of 17 students and two ar-
the thick curtain wall between the two rows. There-
chaeologists from the Department of Archaeology
fore, at least 1m of the curtain wall was included
along with eight workers employed by the Depart-
within the squares.
ment of Antiquities.

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8

4 M. SHQIARAT et al

Figure 2: Aerial photograph shows the excavated area in Udhruh during 2008 and 2009 Seasons (Courtesy of David Ken-
nedy).

2.3 SAMPLING, MINERALOGICAL AND the diffraction pattern accuracy. The size was re-
CHEMICAL ANYALYSES duced to less than 75 microns. About 1 gram of each
Five marble samples were collected from the sample was fed randomly to metal mount cavity.
squares (Fig. 2). The field observations show that this Sample powder then pressed by powder press bock
marble type is hard and light in color, made mainly followed by cleaning of surplus powder. The com-
of sugary like crystals. Marble sample were studied plete sample holder then placed in special rack for
under TWLM and their mineralogical composition analysis. Operation and experimentation conditions
was analyzed using the XRD technique. Quantitative are as follows: radiation: Co Kα., wave length
chemical analysis was performed using X-Ray Fluo- 1.78896 angstrom, generation voltage is 40 kV, cur-
rescence Spectrometer (XRF). rent 45 mA, scanning speed 1.2o/min, step size
XRF analysis: Quantitative analysis of major oxides 0.02o.
and trace elements was performed using X-Ray Flu- Petrography and Microscopy: Five samples were
orescence Spectrometer (XRF) type SHIMADZU selected for petrographic study. Stereo-microscopic
EDX-7000/8000 X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer inspection for hand specimens was carried out. High
instrument available at available at the Laboratories similarity was observed between the samples.
of AHU. Samples were crushed then powdered Standard thin sections of the marble samples were
(grain size of the powder < 50 μ) in an agate mortar. prepared. Half of each thin section was stained using
The powdered sample is filled in a thin film covered staining test solution (Alizarin Red S) and then stud-
10 mL cell, then pressed using press machine. The ied using the polarizing microscope available at the
pressed sample cell is the mounted in the instru- laboratories of Geology Directorate - the Natural
ment. The software used to detect minerals is Resources Authority. Marble samples were photo-
PCEDX-Navi-PCEDX-Main mena [EDX-7000]. graphed using digital camera (canon power shot
XRD Analysis: Marble samples were analyzed us- S70).
ing the SHIMADZU LabX XRD-6100 X-Ray Diffrac-
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
tometer available at the laboratories of Engineering
Faculty at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University (AHU). 3.1 EXCAVATION RESULTS
Mineral identification carried out via ICDD PDF-
The results of the excavations 2008-2009 seasons
2/Release 2013 RDB and comparison with literature.
are useful to understand the history of the site, espe-
Sample was crushed then finely ground using lab
cially in the periods postdating the Roman. New ma-
scale grinding machine available at the laboratories
terials were revealed. In the excavation area, area 02
of Mining Engineering department. For the X-ray
season 2009, there is more evidence from the Roman,
diffraction method, the size and uniformity of sam-
Byzantine and probably the early Islamic period and
ple particles are important in the determination of
less evidence regarding the late Islamic period. Sub-

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8

CHARACTERIZATION AND PROVENANCE STUDY OF MARBLE FROM UDHRUH, SOUTHERN JORDAN 5

stantial parts of the curtain wall of the fortress were from the same source or closer resources with the
exposed. The same wall was seized in later periods, same marble province.
and new buildings were constructed against it. It is Table 1: Chemical composition (major elements oxides) of
also obvious that new structures were for domestic Udruch Marble.
use. Their walls were associated with stratified floors
and hearths. It has also become clear that the stone- Analyte
Sample NO
work of the two faces of the perimeter wall are not (%) 1 2 3 4 5
the same, large blocks used in the external side while
CaO 98.94 98.98 98.52 99.23 98.99
smaller blocks were used for the internal. The dig-
ging in the open area, the interval tower, revealed SiO2 0.69 0.67 0.88 0.50 0.62
new information concerning the fate of the towers SO3 0.21 0.20 0.45 0.12 0.24
and the apparent long-term use of the site. This tow- NiO 0.05 0.06 0.03 0.06 0.04
er was converted into a lime oven. Besides the pieces
SrO 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.05 0.06
of marble, the archaeological finds included architec-
ture, pottery, glass, coins and personal objects. Fe2O3 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.01 0.01
CuO 0.04 0.03 --- 0.03 0.04
3.2 MINERALOGIC AND CHEMICAL COM-
POSITION Mineralogic analysis via XRD showed that the
High degree of similarity was observed between major mineral phase in Udhruh marble is calcite
the marble samples. The chemical composition of the (Fig.3). Dolomite is relatively rare. Therefore,
studied marble samples is presented in Table 1. The Udhruh marble is calcitic marble not dolomatic mar-
dominant oxide is calcium monoxide which forms ble. The calcitic marbles are very common and most
greater than 98.5% in each marble sample. Other ox- of Greece ancient marble quarries are of this type,
ides are present in minor quantities. Majoring of while the dolomitic marbles were restricted for stat-
CaO in Udhruh marble indicates that they were de- ues (Abu-Jaber et al., 2012). Other mineralogical
rived from calcitic sources. The similarity in the components and impurities are also present. They
chemical composition results of the studied marble are mainly quartz and clay minerals.
samples would indicates that they were brought

Figure 3: XRD diffractograms for Udhruh marble samples. The main mineral phase is calcite.

3.3 PETROGRAPHY OF UDHRUH MARBLE color probably due to the presence of graphite (Abu
Jaber et. al, 2012). Some hand specimens show darker
The hand specimens of Udhruh marble show
bands (Fig. 4-C) that could be related to the presence
white to grayish white colors, fine to medium-
of iron-oxides as stains.
grained, medium hard to hard (Fig. 4-A, B). The grey

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8

6 M. SHQIARAT et al

Figure 4: [A] Fine to medium-grained, medium hard marble, [B] Medium-grained and hard marble, [C] Shows dark bands
of staining iron-oxides. Scale unit is 1mm.

Under microscope, the marble samples show mo- mite in different marble sources (e.g. Penteli type)
saic fabric. Calcite occurs as a major constituent and Lazzarini (2004), (Lazzarini and Mariottini, 1987).
forms about 97%. It occurs as fine to medium- The petrographical characteristics of Udhruh marble
grained, anhedral to subhedral aggregates (Fig. 5 are most likely to match that of Pentelic type marbles
and Fig. 6). Calcite crystals can be identified by their reported by Lazzarini (2004), therefore, Udhruh
rhombic cleavage (Fig. 5). They exhibit a xenoblastic marble might have been extracted from the quarries
texture where the grain boundaries are irregular on Mount Pentelicus, some 16 km northeast of Ath-
(Fig. 5 and 6). Dolomite is rarely exist and forms less ens in Greece.
than 3%. No account has been considered for dolo-

Figure 5: Rhombohedral cleavage in Calcite crystals. Figure 6: High interference colored calcite (vary colored),
4x, XPL. first order colored (grayish) dolomite also present. The
marble microstructure for xenoblastic texture. 4x, XPL.

Four regional areas are considered as sources of and into the begging of the second, the marble trade
marble in the Mediterranean basin; Greece, Turkey, in and around the Mediterranean Sea fall under the
Italy, and North Africa (Herz 1998; Marbles 1982; control of a Roman Imperial quarry system within
Jobbins 1990). In Jordan, Burton MacDonald in his the maritime port city of Gaza (Fisher 1998, 1996;
survey in 1979 South Wadi El Hasa, noted that the Fant 1988). Udhurh would have had the closest con-
natural resources of the region include chert, bitu- tact with what would have been in Gaza. Pensabence
men's, gypsum, building stone and the raw materials (1978) suggested that finding these different kinds of
for glass and cement (MacDonald, 1980). The subse- marble together is not problematic because" there
quent survey conducted in 1981 (MacDonald et al., must have been Ports in Asia Minor which acted as
1982), MacDonald provided no evidence of marble collecting points for the export of marble from the
quarrying in the Jordan region, but the 1982 survey nearby regions".
recorded an alabaster quarry at site 1016 (MacDon- The discovery of marble at Udhruh is not unex-
ald et al. 1983). At the end of the first century B.C pected considering the history of the site and the

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 19, No 1, (2019), pp. 1-8

CHARACTERIZATION AND PROVENANCE STUDY OF MARBLE FROM UDHRUH, SOUTHERN JORDAN 7

number of buildings and features. The site was obvi- tent contact between Udhruh and Petra might have
ously a major urban centre in the vicinity of Petra played a role in the process of using and reusing
throughout the first millennium AD. The Byzantine marble in Udhruh. Udhruh itself. In a political and
church is the most possible candidate source of the historical context, it belonged to Petra and regardless
marble pieces analysed in this paper as marble was of the sources of marble and whether it was a first-
common in churches. Marble artifacts and objects hand use or reused at Udhruh, Petra seems to have
were popular in Byzantine churches as they had cer- been the trade location of Udhruh marble, which
tain function and use. Recent excavations in the was originally imported from the Mediterranean
church of Udhruh revealed a number of marble slabs marble provinces. Petra was a caravan city for many
and pieces. The slabs appear to have been parts of centuries and a wide variety of goods and materials
the chancel screens which were evidently used in the including marble were imported from all over the
church, particularly in the eastern end of the aisles. ancient world.
The continuous use of the site in later periods and
4. CONCLUSIONS
the abandonment of some buildings suggest that
some materials were removed and reused in other The procurement and trade in marble became an
parts of the site. One of the marble slabs which were important element of the economics of the Roman
discovered in the excavations of 2009 had a faint Empire with the marble quarries being imperialized
painting of a Greek letter. during the second century AD. Udhruh site was ob-
Generally speaking, marble was not uncommon in viously a major urban centre in the vicinity of Petra
the area taking into consideration the prosperity and throughout the first millennium AD. Marble artifacts
wealth of Petra, 15 km west of Udhruh. Nabataean and objects were popular in Byzantine churches. Re-
material culture, statues in particular, show that cent excavations in the church of Udhruh revealed a
marble was among the favorite materials. In Petra, number of marble slabs and pieces. Udhruh marble
Marble was also found in association with archaeo- is calcitic marble shows mosaic fabric and xeno-
logical features and material culture (statues) from blastic texture quite similar in its characteristics to
the Roman period. The use of marble is also well the Pentelic marble type marbles from Greece. The
attested in all of the Byzantine churches of Petra. proximity and persistent contact between Udhruh
This discussion leaves no doubt that marble was be- and Petra might have played a role in the process of
ing imported to Petra from different sources for a using and reusing marble in Udhruh and it seems
long time. Abu Jaber et al. (2012) identified the pos- that Petra has contributed to the source of Udhruh
sible sources of marble in Petra to be most likely marble. Petra was a caravan city many centuries and
from the quarries of Thasos, Penteli, Prokennesos a wide variety of goods and materials including
and Dokimeion. marble were imported from all over the ancient
Based on the results discussed above, the Greek world.
marble province is most likely the source of marble
in Udhruh site. However, the proximity and persis-
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The first acknowledgement goes to Al-Hussien Bin Talal University for supporting the excavations at
Udhruh and final thanks goes to Dr. Nicholas Saunders University Bristol for his comments.
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