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 24

BES25_MG1 24

Safaitic 2
l ʿbdlh bn ḥnʾl bn ġyr bn tʾm bn ẓhr
Image of BES25_MG1 20

BES25_MG1 20

Safaitic 1
h ʾlt s¹ʿd zdh w s¹ʿd
Image of BES25_MG1 10.1

BES25_MG1 6.3

Safaitic 3
l whblh bn yqm bn ʾṣḥm bn whblh bn ʾs¹d bn nqm bn ṯbr w bny ʿl- ẓʿn
Image of BES25_MG1 10.1

BES25_MG1 6.2

Safaitic 3
l ʿzz bn ḥrḍ w ḥḍr ʿl- fnt f h lt s¹lm w ġnyt l- ḏ ḍḥṣ
Image of BES25_MG1 10.1

BES25_MG1 6.1

Safaitic 3
l ʿzz bn ḥrḍ w bny ʿl- ẓʿn w ḫbl -h
Image of BES25_MG1 10.1

BES25_MG1 14

Safaitic 3
l ʾs¹d bn ʾqdm w ḥḍr ʿl- fnt f h lt w ds²r w ʾls²h ʾs²br s¹lm w ʿwr l- ḏ ʿwr h- s¹fr w bny ʿl- ẓʿn
Image of BES25_MG1 10.1

BES25_MG1 10.3

Safaitic 3
l wʾl bn ms¹k bn wʾl w bny ʿl- ẓʿn
Image of BES25_MG1 10.1

BES25_MG1 10.2

Safaitic 3
l mʿn bn mṭl bn ʾfkl bn ḥy bn tdʿ bn ḥrb w wgm ʿl- ʾḫt -h
Image of BES25_MG1 3.1

BES25_MG1 3.2

Safaitic 2
l s¹ny bn ḥṭṭ bn ẓhr bn tʾm w wgm ʿl- grmʾl w ʿl- ʾb -h
Image of BES25_MG1 3.1

BES25_MG1 3.1

Safaitic 3
l ʾs¹ bn ns²l bn krzn bn whblh w bny ʿl- ẓʿn