Preliminary remarks on the pottery from the last phases of occupation at Dharih, southern Jordan (late 10th to 20th centuries)

Dharih (Khirbat al-Dharīḥ) is an important multi-period site located on the eastern slope of Wādī al-Laʿbān, which is a southern branch of one of the largest watersheds in Jordan, Wādī al-Ḥasā. In the scientific discourse, it is known mainly as a significant sacral complex functioning between the 1st−4th centuries, surrounded by a small village. Regular field prospections and excavations within the ‘temple temenos’, carried out by the French-Jordanian mission since 1983, allowed studying also various aspects of site functioning during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. This paper presents the first results of the examination of handmade pottery from the last phases of occupation at Dharih. The main part of this assemblage was related to the several household structures established high above the Nabataean to Early Islamic remains. The chrono-typological analysis of both pottery and glass finds supported by the interpretation of relative stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating suggest that this phase can be probably placed in the period between the late 10th−12th centuries. It provides a chronological refinement of existing pottery classifications and unique insight into the local material culture.