MG 1 (Marabb al-Ghuṣayn 1), Al-Mafraq Governorate, Jordan

Documented by The Badia Epigraphic Survey (BES25, Dir. Ahmad Al-Jallad and Ali al-Manaser) (2025)

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.
Image of BES25_MG1 27.1

BES25_MG1 27.3

Safaitic 3
l ẓʿn bn krzn bn whblh ḏ- ʾl tm w l- -h h- ʾnfs¹
Image of BES25_MG1 27.1

BES25_MG1 27.4

Safaitic 2
l ẓʿn bn kḥs¹mn ḏ- ʾl kn w s¹rt s¹nt ngy ẓnn bn kḥs¹mn f h lt w h gdḍf s¹lm
Image of BES25_MG1 28

BES25_MG1 28

Safaitic 2
l ʿnʾl bn kḥs¹mn bn ẓnn bn kḥs¹mn w ts²rh bʿls¹mn l- mnḍ w h lt s¹lm l- ḏ dʿy
Image of BES25_MG1 30.3

BES25_MG1 30.3

Safaitic 3
l bnʿtm bn ʿḏr bn ḏl bn ʾs¹ ḏ- ʾl tm w bny ʿl- ẓʿn
Image of BES25_MG1 30.1

BES25_MG1 30.1

Safaitic 2
l nʿmn bn ys¹mʿl ḏ- ʾl ḍf
Image of BES25_MG1 30.2

BES25_MG1 30.2

Safaitic 3
l s²mt bn ns²l
Image of BES25_MG1 29.1

BES25_MG1 29.1

Safaitic 1
l ṭmṯn
Image of BES25_MG1 29.1

BES25_MG1 29.2

Safaitic 1
l ṭylt bn ----
Image of BES25_MG1 29.1

BES25_MG1 29.3

Safaitic 2
l s²ʿ---- w rʿy h- ḍʾn
Image of BES25_MG1 16.1

BES25_MG1 16.1

Safaitic 3
l ḫlṣ bn bnmrh bn ʿbd bn ymlk bn ʾrs² w ḥḍr ʿl- fnt w bny ʿl- ẓʿn
Image of BES25_MG1 31

BES25_MG1 31

Safaitic 3
l ẓʿn bn ʾrs²t bn ṣrmt bn ʾmr bn mḥlm bn wznt bn tm bn ʾs¹lm bn s¹r w wgm ʿl- ʾḫt -h w ʿl- nnt w ʿl- s¹r w bny
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.1

Safaitic 1
l s¹bʿ bn ʿzhm h- lṯ
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.2

Safaitic 1
l fdy bn bnt bn ʿrʾl bn ḫrg bn s¹mk
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.3

Safaitic 1
h rḍw s¹ʿd qṣyt bn ʿly w s¹lm
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.4

Safaitic 1
l yfʿʾl bn ḥfy
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.5

Safaitic 1
l mlḥmt bn s¹lm bn ʿbdy
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.6

Safaitic 1
l ʿbs¹ bn s²fr
Image of BES25_MG1 32.1

BES25_MG1 32.7

Safaitic 1
l hrb bn ʾs¹ bn mlk