Jerash Hippodrome 2004 Overview

The Jerash Hippodrome Excavations 1984 to 1996.
Architectural and archaeological studies
A.Ostrasz and I. Kehrberg

The field project ended near completion with the untimely death of A. Ostrasz in October 1990. Jerash/Gerasa (Jordan, map ref. 234187) is located in the Wadi Jerash along the E and W banks of the ancient river Chrysorhoas, 58 km north of Amman. Gerasa was also the Hellenistic town of ‘Antioch on the Chrysorhoas' and this Greek heritage lent the name of hippodrome to the chariot race course when it was built under Hadrian.

The Gerasa hippodrome was built next to the contemporary Hadrianic Arch just outside the walled city and its main South Gate. In 1982 a Polish-Jordanian team explored the hippodrome site first excavated in the early 1930s by an American-British Expedition published in 1938. The continuous excavations from 1984 to 1996 by Ostrasz and Kehrberg. sponsored by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, uncovered the extent ruins of the monument and its history. This resulted in a revised ground plan, partial restoration and disclosure of crutial architectural features pertaining to circuses.

The architectural remains present unique details for a 2nd century construction designed specifically for chariot racing and seating over 15000 spectators. Evidence brought to light that chariot racing took indeed place but ceased after barely one century due to damages caused by poor foundations which made parts of the hippodrome unusable. Subsequently, potters and tanners occupied the large empty structure and already in the late 3rd century it had become the biggest industrial complex of Jerash. The pottery kilns and workshops expanded their production throughout the Late Roman and Byzantine periods progressively increasing their output with innovative styles to compete and cater for a rapidly growing diverse market. After 400 years of occupation, the potters and their families abandoned their workshops and kilns in the early 7th century. The hippodrome was last used as a burial place for 250 victims of the plague which had struck Jerash in the mid-7th century. Two devastating earthquakes in 749/50 and 1247 brought about the final collapse of the hippodrome whose vast ruins protected its archaeological and architectural testimony.

The Jerash Hippodrome will be published in the British Academy monograph series B.A.M.A. Volume One by A.Ostrasz, which consists of a 400-page posthumous draft mansucript dealing with the excavation and architecture of the hippodrome in comparison with other known Roman circuses. Ostrasz reviews classification of building styles and other subjects related to chariot racing. Drawings and plans are in draft form. Volume Two by I. Kehrberg presents the archaeological contexts. The main body concerns the Late Roman and Byzantine pottery workshops, a corpus of their ceramic productions, and a revision of chronological type series. The outlines for each chapter, catalogues and illustrations are in draft form. Specialists contribute reports on glass, coins and metals in volume two. Inscription - and osteological reports are specialist contributions in volume one. The publications present insights for an archaeological-historical chronicle and synthesis of the first eight centuries AD of Jerash and new material for comparative studies of other Classical sites in the region.

The submission dates to the publisher are mid-2005 for Volume One and mid-2006 for Volume Two. Appended are the right of publication by the applicant and in the name of A. Ostrasz, academic resumes, budgets and work schedules towards publication of both volumes which will each include a CD Rom supplement database.