Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Anthropology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-177).

Thesis (M.A.)--Johnson Bible College, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-85).

Thesis (M.A.)--Johnson Bible College, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-85).

Thesis (M.A.)--Johnson Bible College, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-85).

No description available.

Eastern Cistern B on the Ad-Deir Plateau is unusual in its breadth and variety of ceramic vessels represented by thousands of sherds. These sherds raised significant questions about the purpose and use of the vessels that they originally came from. This thesis argues that the ceramic vessels that were deposited in Eastern Cistern B represent the deposited remains of an ancient Nabataean ritual feast. Furthermore, this thesis also helps to answer the questions surrounding what the ceramic containers once held and their relationship to that ritual meal. This thesis identified residues absorbed within the ceramic fragments through the use of a gas chromatographer-mass spectrometer analysis. The data demonstrated that the vessels once contained remains of medicinal plants, such as crocus, oleander, and others as well as post deposition contaminants throughout the majority of the samples. Those contaminations and other limitations mentioned in this thesis may provide a basis for future investigations for absorbed residue analysis in Petra, Jordan. In turn, the relationship between the medicinal plants and the feast at Eastern Cistern B suggests that a healing ritual possibly accompanied a meal suggesting archaeologists begin examining this and other associated events that accompanied ritual feasts in and among the Nabataeans and in the ancient Near East more broadly.

Niches are common features in the Nabataean landscape (Healey 2001; Starcky 1966: cols. 1008-10; Patrich 1990:50-113). From their frequent appearance in the archeological record, it is evident that the Nabataeans placed great importance on these cultic features. However, very little is known about them. The purpose of this study was to find and record Nabataean cultic niches in a field survey and then to interpret these niches as part of a research design that proposed purposes of niche variation in construction, orientation, and placement of niches on the landscape. My research addresses several neglected issues in the study of cultic niches in Nabataean religion. Robert Wenning has stated there is a need "to research the elements and details of niches in order to understand which detail or combination of elements indicates a specific function or points to an individual deity or certain divine aspect" (Wenning 2001:88). With this research, I hope to determine whether or not certain characteristics of niches can show preferred orientations, indicate a specific function, determine how sanctuaries containing niches were organized, show preferred niche façade ornamentation, or aid in the potential identification of deities.

Depuis les premières recherches archéologiques sur le site de Pétra au début du XXe s., certaines questions concernant la défense de la ville n'ont pas véritablement été abordées : il n’y a pas consensus sur l'existence et la datation de fortifications, notamment pour l'époque nabatéenne. Cette étude a pour objectif de vérifier l’existence d’un éventuel système défensif reposant sur un réseau de fortifications et de postes de guet au travers d'un relevé des vestiges archéologiques visibles en surface et de pouvoir en préciser la chronologie grâce à l’observation des techniques de construction et l’analyse de la céramique de surface. D’après la répartition des vestiges défensifs répertoriés, la défense de la ville semble avoir été assurée par un système contrôlant des points stratégiques sur un territoire incluant les secteurs périphériques de la ville. Le volume I replace tout d’abord Pétra dans son milieu naturel, décrit son espace urbain et présente le contexte géopolitique de la Nabatène. Il est ensuite consacré à l'étude archéologique du système défensif des Nabatéens de Pétra : l'histoire de la recherche sur ce sujet, l'organisation et l’architecture militaires des Nabatéens, l’analyse de la répartition des vestiges défensifs par type, accompagnée de datations et d'interprétations sur la fonction de chacun d'eux. Il se termine par une étude comparative avec d'autres systèmes défensifs développés en d'autres temps à Pétra et en d'autres lieux, nabatéens ou hasmonéens. Le volume II est consacré au catalogue décrivant les différents secteurs où des vestiges défensifs ont été enregistrés. Enfin, les volumes III et III bis sont dédiés à l'illustration. / Since the first archaeological researches were carried out at Petra in the early 20th century, some questions regarding the defense of the city haven’t been tackled: there is still no consensus on the existence of fortifications and their dating, especially when it comes to the Nabatean period. The purpose of the present study is to determine, thanks to an inventory of archaeological site surface remains, the existence of a possible defense system relying on a network of fortifications and observation posts, and specify its chronology through the survey of building techniques and surface pottery analysis. According to the distribution of the listed defensive remains, the defense of the city seems to have been ensured by a system which controls strategic locations in a territory including the peripheral areas of the city. Volume I first puts Petra in its natural environment, describes its urban space and presents the geopolitical context of Nabataea. It is then focused on the archaeological study of the defensive system of the Nabataeans from Petra: the history of research on this subject, the military organization and architecture of the Nabateans, the analysis of the distribution of the defensive remains according to their type, complemented with datings and interpretations on the function of each remain. It ends by a comparative study with other defensive systems developed in other times in Petra and in other places, Nabataeans or Hasmoneans. The volume II is dedicated to the catalog which describes the various areas where defensive remains were recorded. Finally, the volumes III and III bis are specifically dedicated to illustrations.

This thesis examines the tubulus, a ceramic heating pipe developed by the Romans to create wall cavities through which hot air could circulate. An extension of the hypocaust system, tubuli systems were one of the most advanced heating systems used in antiquity, and were employed throughout the Roman Empire. This thesis focuses on the tubuli from Roman Arabia and particularly those from the site of Humayma, in modern Jordan, where a large corpus of this material has been found. This thesis represents the first study specifically on tubuli in Roman Arabia, and as such, it presents an initial examination of the material and lays the foundation for future studies on the topic. The first chapter of this thesis introduces tubuli, the region of Roman Arabia, and the history of baths in Roman Arabia. In the second chapter, tubuli and their use at Humayma are discussed in detail, and a chronological tubulus typology is presented. The Humayma tubuli are put into their regional context in the third chapter, which looks at tubuli found at sites throughout Roman Arabia. This final chapter also examines the regional trade and reuse of this material. Although this study only scratches the surface of this topic, it is able to reach several conclusions regarding tubuli and their use in Roman Arabia. These findings include revelations about the Nabataeans’ adoption and adaption of the tubulus before the Roman annexation of their territory and insights into the production and trade of this previously poorly understood material. / Graduate / 0324 / 0333 / 0579 / caharvey@uvic.ca

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