Jerash / Gerasa
جرش / Γέρασα
Jordan · Jerash
In brief
Jerash is an archaeological site where the Roman and Late Antique urban fabric has been extensively excavated. Research on temples, churches and baths sheds light on the city's architecture and daily life.
What was found?
- 1Church of Saint Theodoros
It is one of the starting points of church excavations at Ceraş. Together with other churches uncovered on both banks of the river, it documents the city's Christian period.
- 2Ceramics from the bath drains
Bowls, cups, small vessels, lamps and bottles were found. The vessel types allow eating, drinking and personal care activities in the baths to be investigated.
- 3Glass vessel fragments
These include small bottles, goblets and glass fragments with different decorations. They show the diversity of the objects used in the baths in terms of materials and craftsmanship.
- 4Animal bones from food waste
The remains of sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, fish and birds were found in the drains. Researchers interpret them as direct evidence of food consumption inside the baths.
- 5Jewelry and gaming pieces
Beads, rings, earrings and bone gaming pieces were found. They suggest that the baths were a place for social gatherings and games as well as personal care.
What does it point to?
According to researchers, the Central Baths were a lively meeting place where people consumed food and played games as well as bathed. It is striking that these social activities continued as the heated areas and spaces reserved for bathing became smaller.
What did it teach us?
- Documented through tangible objects that eating and drinking continued in Late Antique baths.
- Showed that the reduction in the building's size did not mean the complete disappearance of its social functions.
- Showed that drain deposits can illuminate daily life through details different from those provided by monumental architecture.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
Research published in 2024 examined pottery, glass and animal remains from two sewer lines at the Central Baths, presenting new findings on the use of the baths in the 7th century CE.
Record
- Culture
- Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic
- First modern dig
- 1907
- Coordinates
- 32.2847°, 35.8899°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Pella 32 km
- Ain Ghazal 34 km
- Umm al-Jimal 45 km
- Hisham's Palace 60 km
- Ancient Jericho / Tell es-Sultan 62 km
- Tel Megiddo 74 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook - New prehistoric settlement identified on the shore of the Dardanelles
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Arkeoloji Dergisi ↗
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