Khirbat Ataruz

**Khirbat Ataruz** (Arabic: خربة عطروز) anaa **Ataroth** (Hebrew: עטרות) be an archaeological site insyd Madaba Governorate, Jordan. Dem settle de site during de Iron Age, Hellenistic, Roman den Islamic periods, plus most findings wey dey date from de Iron Age.

A Moabite temple dem date to mid-9th to early 8th century BCE dem find at de site be linked to de narrative of de Mesha Stele den de story of de conquest of Ataroth from de Israelites. De site be de location of one of de best preserved Iron Age temples insyd de Southern Levant (Jordan, Israel den de Palestinian territories).
## Geography

Khirbat Ataruz dey locate insyd de Dhiban Plateau, wey situate on de ridge of Jabal Hamidah, between de rivers of Zarqa Main den Sayl al-Hidan, about 10 kilometers from de town of Libb den 3 kilometers from de ruin from Hellenistic den Roman times insyd Machaerus.

## Settlement periods

De site get 12 layers of human settlement, each dey represent a distinct time insyd de history of de site. De main period of settlement be de Iron Age. Na dem abandon de site thru out de Persian period wey dem resettle insyd de late Hellenistic period den thru de early Roman period. Insyd later Roman den Byzantine periods dem san abandon de site wey dem resettle insyd de Early den Middle Islamic periods.

## Iron Age

During de Iron Age, na de site be an important residential den cultic center. Apart from agriculture, de site sanso harbor industries such as metal, weaving, den textile production.

### Archaeological evidence
E be evident insyd de excavation say dem build den maintain de earliest settlement by a national anaa regional entity wey be violently destroyed. E exist for one century anaa less, wey dey last from de late Iron I period to de early Iron IIA period. After de destruction around de late 10th century to early 9th century BCE, dem build a large temple at de highest place of de site, wich last for a short period wey e get changes to ein outline dem make during de early-mid 9th century BCE. Dem destroy de temple, buh dem settle de site wey e last for a long period of time between de late Iron IIA den de Iron IIB, plus de ruins of de temple still be used for cultic activities. Na dem find remains of agricultural structures, such as aqueducts, storage facilities den de kitchen remains. Dem abandon de site after de Iron IIB period den no architectural remains attest to de Persian period.

### Historical context
De site of Khirbat Ataruz be identified plus de Iron Age settlement dem know as Ataroth, wich dey appear both insyd de Book of Numbers of de Hebrew Bible den de Mesha Stele dem find insyd de nearby site of Dibon. De biblical source dey refer to Ataroth as one of de settlements dem establish by de Tribe of Gad, along plus Aroer den Dibon. Dem sanso mention am in relation to Heshbon den Mount Nebo, wich sanso be found insyd central Transjordan.

De Mesha Stele be commissioned by Mesha, de king of Moab, wey rebel against de rule of de Kingdom of Israel under de House of Omri. According to de Books of Kings, na Mesha be a vassal king wey pay tribute to Israel insyd de shape of livestock den wool. De stele dey describe dis relationship as oppressive. After de death of Omri, ein son Ahab (wey drm no mention ein name insyd de stele) continue to oppress Moab. Mesha rebel against Israel probably during de reign of Jehoram (he rule c. 850 – c. 840 BCE), wey be occupied plus a war against Aram-Damascus under de rule of Hazael insyd de north. He capture Ataroth den kill ein inhabitants as offering to ein god Chemosh. Later he settle de town plus de Sharonites den Maharatites (two unknown groups).

## Later periods

De site be resettled during de Hellenistic period as a rural village wey rely on agricultural economy based on crops, wine den oil. Dem reuse parts of de Iron Age temple for cultic purposes den oda parts be reused for residential purposes. E last til de Early Roman period wey dem abandon am thru out de Late Roman den Byzantine periods. Dem san resettle de site during de Early den Middle Islamic periods, wen na e be a thriving den populous medium-sized village wey dem reuse chaw of de walls from de previous settlement, den especially de  temple ruins.

## References


## External links
*Ataruz Project