The site of Khanazir is located approximately 7.5 kilometers south of Feifa to the north of Wadi Khanazir. The site was located by MacDonald’s survey of the southern Ghor (Site #141, MacDonald et al 1987: 406, fig. 4; MadDonald 1992: 69, fig. 13, pl. 14). The EDSP surveyed the site and conducted test excavations in 9 of the 85 identified tomb structures in winter 1989-1990 by a team led by MacDonald and Nancy Lapp in 1990. MacDonald (1995) reports 4 types of tombs identified at Khanazir, all working on some variation of the stone-lined shaft tomb (as found at Bab edh-Dhra’), or the stone-lined cist tomb (as found at Feifa and Safi/Naqa). The vast majority of human remains were disarcticulated, and interpreted as secondary burials. In one tomb, however, people had reused the tomb, placing fully articulated skeletons overtop of the earlier EB IV disarticulated materials. All pottery from Kh. Khanazir is EB IV, and has parallels with EB IV ceramic material from Bab edh-Dhra’ as well as Tell Iktanu. The skeletal remains and cemetery are currently under study, and will be published once the Numeira town site publication has been completed.

24 meter long stone structure at Khirbet Khanazir	stone structures at Khanazir
detail of excavated tomb structure at Khanazir with archaeologist James Fraser	Khanazir stone structures in view towards Jordan Valley

Home | Back to Top