Ceramica dal monastero della Theotokos nel Wadi ‘Ayn al-Kanisah – Monte Nebo

This study presents the pottery recovered during excavations conducted in 1995 in and around the large central courtyard E and the sector towards the south of the church, with the aim of completing the topographical picture of the complex and identifying its various stages of development. Special attention is paid to the collection of pottery unearthed by two specimen soundings effected below the mosaic of courtyard E near the northern entrance gate of the monastery (specimen I) and just outside the gate (specimen II), originating from a lone closed stratigraphic context, useful in the dating of the courtyard and, as a result, also of its surroundings. The thick red colour of the mixture and the shape and decorations of the pottery point to VI-VII century, fully agreeing with the period suggested on stylistic basis of the first mosaic of the chapel. Thus the mosaic courtyard and the surrounding wall belong to the same period of the chapel itself. Levels of habitation inherent to this period are identified in section E4. The fragment belonging to the last occupation point to the second half of the VIIIth century. Furthermore, this dating coincides with some coins recovered in a fireplace in E4. It confirms a precise end post quem to the date of restoration of the mosaic in the church (762 AD).