What evidence do we have for Pre-Islamic and Islamic burials in Ayla and the Jordan region?
Let's look at two case examples, from two locations.
Let's look at two case examples, from two locations.
Case 1: Pre-Islamic Burial in Aila
Info from:
A Nabataean and Roman Domestic Area at the Red Sea Port of Aila
Alexandra Retzleff
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No. 331 (Aug., 2003),pp. 45-65
jstor.org/stable/1357759…
Info from:
A Nabataean and Roman Domestic Area at the Red Sea Port of Aila
Alexandra Retzleff
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No. 331 (Aug., 2003),pp. 45-65
jstor.org/stable/1357759…
Archaeological excavations (1994-2000) of Byzantine Aila uncovered a pre-Islamic cemetery. The graves are oriented 120° towards the SW.
This 120° orientation is surprising.
Jewish graves would be oriented to Jerusalem, Christian graves to the East (sunrise). But Aila had a predominantly Nabatean population. The bodies were laid on their right side, and looking towards a direction of ~210° SW as mentioned.
Jewish graves would be oriented to Jerusalem, Christian graves to the East (sunrise). But Aila had a predominantly Nabatean population. The bodies were laid on their right side, and looking towards a direction of ~210° SW as mentioned.
The archaeologists’ description of their finds are provided below.
Note that “facing South” is the paper's shorthand for referring to this particular 210° direction.
Note that “facing South” is the paper's shorthand for referring to this particular 210° direction.
Case 2: Bir Madkhur/Jordan
Pre-Islamic and islamic burial
Info from:
A Preliminary Report on the Cemeteries of Bir Madhkur
Megan A. Perry
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No. 346 (May, 2007),pp. 79-93
jstor.org/stable/2506701…
Pre-Islamic and islamic burial
Info from:
A Preliminary Report on the Cemeteries of Bir Madhkur
Megan A. Perry
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No. 346 (May, 2007),pp. 79-93
jstor.org/stable/2506701…
Excavations at Bir Madkhur revealed two graves - one pre-Islamic and one Islamic.
The deceased in the pre-Islamic grave is put on her left side (the article mentions right side, but that seems to be a mistake) looking towards 220°, the direction of Mount Sinai.
The deceased in the Islamic grave is laid on the right side looking towards Mecca (160°).
The deceased in the Islamic grave is laid on the right side looking towards Mecca (160°).
What do these burial examples from Nabatean Arabia show us?
Although laying to rest the body on its side is not typically considered a Nabatean practice, there is nonetheless apparent evidence of this ritual in the pre-Islamic period.
Although laying to rest the body on its side is not typically considered a Nabatean practice, there is nonetheless apparent evidence of this ritual in the pre-Islamic period.
Furthermore, we have the deceased facing the same direction that the early Islamic mosque's mihrab of Ayla was positioned (~215°).
We have seen that Mt Sinai is the only contemporary religious site along this direction.
We have seen that Mt Sinai is the only contemporary religious site along this direction.
Why Mt Sinai? Emperor Justinian I had an impressive monastery built at the site in the mid 6th c, surrounding a chapel which traditionally encloses Moses' Burning Bush.
One of two contested sites for Aaron's tomb is at Mt Sinai (the other being at Petra).
One of two contested sites for Aaron's tomb is at Mt Sinai (the other being at Petra).
Mt Sinai was a central pilgrimage site throughout Late Antiquity, and a strategic monastic stronghold.
The pre-Islamic pilgrimage route departed from Gaza to Nessana, continued to Aila/Aqaba, and onward to Mt Sinai.
This route continued to be in use after the Arab conquest.
The pre-Islamic pilgrimage route departed from Gaza to Nessana, continued to Aila/Aqaba, and onward to Mt Sinai.
This route continued to be in use after the Arab conquest.
Furthermore, we know from contemporary 7th c accounts that Moses was one of the first central prophetic figures in the theological worldview of the emerging Arab leadership. Early 7th c Arab inscriptions venerate Moses, who traditionally received the Pentateuch at Mt Sinai.
Is this 210° burial direction a coincidence?
Did early Muslims adopt these burial customs from the Nabatean people living in the area?
Or does this represent a transitional period between Nabatean and post-Muawiyah I burial practices?
Did early Muslims adopt these burial customs from the Nabatean people living in the area?
Or does this represent a transitional period between Nabatean and post-Muawiyah I burial practices?
