Project Name: Finnish Jabal Haroun Project/ Petra
Duration: July 23-August 25, 2005 (seventh season)
Personnel: 30 archaeologists, cartographers and conservators and 25 local workmen
Director: Prof. Jaakko Frösén, University of Helsinki
Geographical Location: ca 5 km SW of Petra in southern Jordan

The focus of investigations of the FJHP is the Byzantine monastic/pilgrimage center, most probably dedicated to St. Aaron and dated to the 5th-8th centuries A.D.. The site is located on a high plateau below the summit of the Mountain of Aaron (Jabal Haroun) near Petra in southern Jordan. According to the Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition, the mountain is believed to be the burial place of Aaron, Moses' brother. The location of the site is also important with regard to the neighbouring ancient city of Petra. One of the main ancient caravan routes (from Egypt and Sinai) to Petra passes by the southern slopes of the mountain. It is also understood that the site must have been visited by pilgrims from the entire region during and after the existence of the Byzantine monastery there. Equally, it should be recognized that in addition to the apparent religious significance of the site, it posesses also a tremendous potential for the development of tourism: the wild yet spectacular landscape, enchanced now by the discovery and exposure of a large ancient monastic complex.

The 2005 activities included the excavations, conservation, and survey, with this report covering the excavations. As the major structures at the site - the church and the chapel - were already exposed during the previous seasons, the 2005 excavations were conducted in five trenches covering other structures at the site. Trench Z exposed a large room in the southwestern end of the northern complex (hostel). A southern part of the room was used for the deposition of debris from the lime-burning in a kiln located nearby. The extended Trench O revealed the remains of a room which later contained a large lime-burning kiln. Still later the kiln was turned to a bread-baking oven and the entire room probably served as a kitchen or a food-preparation space. The room in Trench A1 is a structural continuation of the Western Building (dated to the Nabataean-Roman period) but it was built in the Byzantine period. That large room might have served as a gathering place and later as a food preparation (?) area. The room exposed in Trench B1 served as habitation only for a short time. Later, it was converted into a space for mixing/storing lime for the production of the wall plaster. A large room exposed in Trench C1 featured a well preserved stone pavement. Additionally, major consolidation and conservation work was performed in the area of the church and the chapel. The unique installations in the chapel -the masonry-built altar pedestal and the cruciform baptismal font -were protected by encasing them in wooden frames. Also, the mosaic in the narthex of the church was further protected by the application of the geo-textile.

The FJHP 2005 fieldwork season has provided a substantial amount of information concerning the site and its environs, which will be properly studied and assessed. As before, the evidence, especially the pottery and glass, strongly indicates that the monastic complex continued its existence well into the Early Islamic period. Particularly important is the discovery of the lime-burning kiln later converted into the bread oven. These installations confirm the industrial activities on the site (preparation of the materials for rebuilding/ remodelling) as well as daily economic activities. This information, together with previously collected data at the site, will be particularly helpful in the preparation of the final publication of the FJHP.

Prof. Jaakko Frösén, FJHP Director

Dr. Zbigniew T. Fiema, FJHP Chief Archaeologist