Jericho Mafjar
Project
The artifacts recovered in the course of the excavations were foremost ceramics, rarely complete vessels and lamps, and potsherds. The ceramics from Khirbet al-Mafjar were studied by Baramki in 1944 and by Whitcomb in 1988. Those vessels and sherds were apparently only from the palace complex and ranged from the Umayyad through Mamluk period, with only very relative divisions into chronological sub-phases. The new research will attempt to refine the type distinctions, particularly from the early phases (Umayyad, Umayyad/Abbasid transition, Abbasid) and from the later phases (late Abbasid, Fatimid). Absent up to now are any locational observations which might be used for functional attributions.
A surprising number of coins, many of Umayyad and Abbasid issues, were found. The numismatics of the earlier excavations seem totally unknown. Likewise, finds of buttons and beads, metal and glass implements were hardly mentioned in earlier reports. The discoveries from the baulk in 3400 suggest that such small items may be recovered and that burnt areas may yield organic materials, such as seeds and basketry. Happily this valuable evidence has not been contaminated with the distraction of precious metals.
