Khirbet et-Tannur

About the Site

Located about 70 kilometers north of Petra, Khirbet et-Tannur is one of the best-preserved and most intact examples of a Nabataean open-air sanctuary. The hilltop complex began as a simple altar surrounded by open space, but was expanded in two major phases of construction during which a temple, colonnades, and additional rooms were added. An elaborate sculptural program at the site included a series of reliefs related to the zodiac and ancient deities. There was no village at Khirbet et-Tannur—it served only as a pilgrimage site, with visitors climbing a steep path up the hill to reach the sanctuary. Khirbet et-Tannur was excavated in 1937 by the Jordanian Department of Antiquities and the American Schools of Oriental Research in Jerusalem. Since then, scavenging and looting have damaged the site, and it continues to be vulnerable. It is hoped that Watch listing will draw attention to the site, which is important in the understanding of religious practices of the ancient Near East. Overview from the World Monuments Fund web page on Khirbet et-Tannur.

About the Data Sets

This project contains data associated with analyses of animal bones and beads published in The Nabataean Temple at Khirbet et-Tannur, Jordan: Volume 2 — Cultic Offerings, Vessels, and other Specialist Reports, edited by Judith S. McKenzie, Joseph A. Greene, Andres T. Reyes, Catherine S. Alexander, Deirdre G. Barrett, Brian Gilmour, John F. Healey, Margaret O'Hea, Nadine Schibille, Stephan G. Schmid, Wilma Wetterstrom, Sarah Whitcher Kansa, Kate da Costa, Patrick Degryse, Katherine Eremin, Sheila Gibson, Owen Gingerich, and Elias Khamis. This volume, published in 2013 in The Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research (no. 68), is available on JSTOR

Project components published here will include:

General Project (doi:10.6078/M7HT2M7N)

Judith McKenzie

Khirbet et-Tannur Glass (doi:10.6078/M7D21VH7)

Nadine Schibille and Patrick Degryse

Khirbet et-Tannur Zooarchaeology (doi:10.6078/M7NK3BZZ)

Sarah Whitcher Kansa