MG 1 (Marabb al-Ghuṣayn 1), Al-Mafraq Governorate, Jordan
Marabb al-Ghuṣayn is a broad basin where seasonal rains gather, fostering lush vegetation and making it an ideal area of pasturing. Situated on a small, nearby hill accessible by three footpaths, the site of MG 1 was previously known and visited during BES19. However, it was not fully defined and documented until the BES25 season, under the direction of Ahmad Al-Jallad and Ali al-Manaser.
The site boasts a number of archaeological features, including a large, cleared-out area perhaps used for temporary habitations like tents. A large cairn of uncertain antiquity marks the hill. The inscriptions of the site tell us that it was used for both pasturing and funerary activity, implying the presence of a grave. The main anthropogenic structure located on the hill seems to be a collection of nfs-monuments (see Al-Jallad 2022a), a type of funerary memorial. It is possible that these structures were dismantled to build the cairn that now sits at the location.
- Al-Jallad, A. The religion and rituals of the nomads of pre-Islamic Arabia: A reconstruction based on the Safaitic inscriptions. (Ancient Languages and Civilizations, 1). Leiden: Brill, 2022a.
