Roman-period pottery from a trench by the northern city wall in Beit Ras/Capitolias

Abstract

One of the trenches opened by the team of the PCMA during 2015–2016 at the site of Beit Ras (ancient Capitolias) in the governorate of Irbid, northern Jordan, revealed remains of the defensive city wall. Neither the foundation nor the earliest walking level connected with the wall could have been reached; however, the archaeological exploration allowed to identify three upper floors, all posterior to the construction of the city wall. The analysis of the ceramics from under the floors permitted to establish the repertory of the local, regional and some imported wares in the Roman-period Capitolias and, at the same time, provided an insight into the chronology of the defenses of ancient Capitolias.