The volute capitals of Mudaybi’
In 1982, Ivan Negueruela of the Spanish Archaeological Mission in Jordan studied the volute capitals of Mudaybi’ and reported on them in the article, "The Proto-Aeolic Capitals from Mudeibi'a in Moab," published in ADAJ.4 He found, in addition to the one previously known capital, Md-1, three additional capitals and fragments. All these capitals were found inside the eastern gate area: two nearly complete, one partial, and one fragment. At the beginning of the KRP excavation, all four of Negueruela's capitals and fragments were located. As the squares were laid out in Field B, two of the capitals were located in the north balk of Square O-9, Md-1 and Md-3. The fragmentary capital Md-4, was located in secondary use on top of a later wall, shown on the top plan, Figure 3, as part of the inner structure. This wall has not been excavated. Capital Md-2 was located just north of O-9 in Square O-8; this square was excavated in 2001.
Figure 2 - Mudaybi’ (1997-2014)
Photo 2 shows the location of the four capitals and capital fragments in reference to the east gate at Mudaybi’. The close proximity of all the capitals and capital fragments to the gate cannot be accidental. Further, the additional capital and capital fragment discovered in 1997 were also found in this same area. See below for the importance of the location of the capitals in establishing their function.
Capital Md-1 (Photo 1 and Photo 2 ) lay almost in the middle of the east gate opening, approximately 3.5 m west of the inner wall line of the gate. (See Photo 2 and Figure 3 for the relative position of the volute capitals). The capital lay almost horizontally with its base to the north. Volute capital Md-1 is 188 cm long, making it next to the largest of the volute capitals known at that time. Only one volute capital from Megiddo was longer (Shiloh's M-5, see below under Shiloh's typology). Capital Md-1 was next longest, and was the tallest of the complete volute capitals discovered to that date. The height is 92 cm at its maximum; the capital was 44 cm. thick .
Photo 2 - Field B before excavation in 1997
Photo 3 - Md-2 excavated 2001
Volute capital Md-2 was discovered in a vertical position upside down and buried almost completely in the south-west corner of Square O-8. Its face was uncovered and photographed by Negueruela in 1982.5 Capital Md-2 was excavated in 2001 (see Photo 3 to the right). The capital measures ca. 190cm x 98cm, and measures 45cm thick. Thus this capital is now shown to be slightly larger than Md-1. Md-2 lay just north of Md-3 and about a meter west of Md-1.
A fragment was later broken off the capital; that fragment was excavated in Square O-9 in 1997 (see Photo 4). The fragment belonged on the lower right corner of the capital (upper left as the capital lay buried upside down).
Photo 4 - Md-2 fragment
Capital Md-3 lay nearly one meter west of capital Md-1. It is not complete; the left half of the face is broken, and the lower right portion was buried; when removed it was 118 cm long, 98 cm high and 45 cm thick. At 98 cm tall, this capital is taller than Md-1. The top is smooth. The upper right portion is complete. Photo 5 shows Md-3 before it was removed from the square during excavation; Photo 6 shows Md-3 after it was removed from the balk.
Photo 5 - Md-3 before excavation
Photo 6 shows Md-3 after it was removed from the balk.
Capital fragment Md-4 (Photo 2 above) lay on top of a later wall in secondary use. It is 47 cm high, 42 cm long and 46 cm thick. This fragment was located 5.85 m west of Md-3. All that remains of this fragment is the lower left corner of the central triangle, a section of the base of the triangle/base, and a very short section of the lower left volute.
As Photo 2 shows, the four capitals and fragments all lay roughly in line with the eastern gate opening. One can only assume that the capitals are near their original location and were used in the gate complex. Even Md-4 is unlikely to have been moved very far into its secondary use location.
Photo 7 - Md-5 on end of gate pier wall
In 1997, a new volute capital was excavated in Square N-9. The capital was discovered face down just off the end of the pier wall. This new capital is virtually complete. Following the designations of Negueruela, this capital is designated Md-5. It measures 186 cm x 93 cm x 47 cm. The measurements are very close to those of Md-1. Md-5 also shares all the characteristics of the other Mudaybi’ capitals: two outlines along the sides of the central triangle, a base line for the triangle, no notch in the abacus, and nearly equally wide spirals in the outside part of the volutes. The face of the capital is especially well-preserved.
In 1997, a new volute capital was excavated in Square N-9. The capital was discovered face down just off the end of the pier wall. This new capital is virtually complete. Following the designations of Negueruela, this capital is designated Md-5. It measures 186 cm x 93 cm x 47 cm. The measurements are very close to those of Md-1. Md-5 also shares all the characteristics of the other Mudaybi’ capitals: two outlines along the sides of the central triangle, a base line for the triangle, no notch in the abacus, and nearly equally wide spirals in the outside part of the volutes. The face of the capital is especially well-preserved.