Roman fort

Sondages beta and gamma (1986-1987) at Jebel Khalid revealed, well above the Hellenistic levels, walls of a Roman fort built over the ruins of the Hellenistic temple. The camp was 'discovered' when its playing-card shaped outline was highly visible in an aerial photograph taken in 1989

The camp may have measured 91 m east-west and 84 m north south, an area of 7,844 square metres and this may mean that about 500 soldiers could be housed there — the size of an infantry cohort after the Diocletian reforms.

The majority of the coin and lamp evidence points to a date in the mid-to-late 4th century CE, though its foundation could be earlier.

The fort, not visible from the river, was not defensive. It may have had a military role in Julian's expedition against the Persians in 363 and then continued to police river traffic and as a tranfer station for goods continuing to, or crossing from, east and west.

Report:

• H. Jackson, 'Romans at Jebel Khalid? Where and when?', in E. Minchin and H. Jackson, eds, Text and the Material World. Essays in Honour of Graeme Clarke. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology and Literature PB 185 (Uppsala, 2017) 143-155. http://www.astromeditions.com/books/book/?artno=PB185.

Satellite photograph showing rectangular outline of camp circumvallation above excavated Hellenistic temple
Field books

The Australian Mission to Jebel Khalid is a joint project of the
Australian National University and the University of Melbourne.