Provenance of the Basalt Blocks from the Edict of Anastasius at Qasr al-Hallabat (Jordan): Archaeometry Application of Petrological Techniques and Archaeological Implications

A comprehensive petrological analysis confirms that the basalt blocks bearing fragments of the Anastasius Edict, reused at Qasr al-Hallabat in Jordan, originated from quarries near Umm el-Jimal. Using advanced techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), researchers compared samples from Qasr al-Hallabat with those from Umm el-Jimal's buildings and quarries, supporting the hypothesis that these blocks were transported approximately 20 km. This finding sheds light on the logistics of Roman defense reorganization in the 5th century CE and the reuse of materials in later constructions during the 6th century.

Arce, I., Cebriá, J.-M., Álvarez de Buergo, M., Fort, R., & Gómez-Heras, M. (2026). Provenance of the Basalt Blocks from the Edict of Anastasius at Qasr al-Hallabat (Jordan): Archaeometry Application of Petrological Techniques and Archaeological Implications. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2026.2624524