Numeira is a 0.5 hectare walled settlement located approximately 13 km south of Bab edh-Dhra’. The Wadi Numeira, bordering the north side of the settlement, has experienced extensive downcutting over the past 500 years, effectively washing away the northern portion of the site. Donahue, the team’s geologist, states that the settlement was probably twice the size we see today during the town’s occupation (Donahue 1984). Radiocarbon dates place the occupation and abandonment of Numeira to the EB III period. Approximately 16% of the extant site was excavated (c.3200 sq. meters) from 1979-1983. Excavations recovered the second largest collection of EBA seal impressions, extensive remains of textiles and textile production tools, numerous grain storage installations, and amazing preservation of ceramics and other material culture in over 25 rooms with associated courtyards.

Storage and work areas at Numeira	Cleaning a storage bin at Numeira

The on-going analysis of groundstone, chipped stone, ceramic, faunal, textile, jewelry, and paleobotanical materials will enable the research team to assess the fundamental elements of the economic behaviors at Numeira, and the relationships between activity areas, residential structures and non-residential structures. Because so much of the town has been excavated (c. 16%), we have an extensive sample of the town plan and therefore an excellent case study for exploring the interplay between residential and non-residential spaces. Excavations discovered two distinct occupational phases at the site, demonstrating the potential to investigate diachronic change at the settlement. Fascinatingly, the inhabitants of Numeira abandoned the town, but seemed to prepare the structures for that abandonment and an eventual return that never materialized. After the preparation and abandonment of Numeira, the town was burned and one of the fortification towers collapsed, crushing three individuals beneath its walls.

Base of collapsed tower with crushed individual

The organized abandonment of the entire town, and the preparations for an eventual return, clearly suggest that our simple models of EB collapse must be reevaluated.

With the publication of the Bab edh-Dhra’ town site volume completed, the publication staff has made Numeira its highest priority. The staff is currently collecting final reports from researchers, and conducting a final, short field season to complete an updated plan of the site in relation to the Wadi en-Numeira and the site of Ras en-Numeira.

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