Abila in relation to the other Decapolis cities.
Fieldwork at Abila began in 1980 with a controlled, timed surface survey. Dr. Harold Mare
originally wanted to conduct a 100% surface collection of the site, but that would have
taken years, so Michael Fuller devised a system of transection surveys that were carried
out during the summer of 1980.
Urban Survey conclusions - Distribution of Iron Age sherds.
Urban Survey conclusions - Distribution of Roman sherds.
Urban Survey conclusions - Distribution of Byzantine sherds. The site sized expanded
and suburbs developed. Limited evidence would suggest that the suburbs were focused
around special craft industries such as glassmaking, pottery, tanning, etc.
Regional Survey transects in relationship to modern Jordanian villages.
Carved limestone altar from the surface of survey cell NT - 1.
Regional Survey conclusions - Iron Age land use vs. Roman landuse.
Regional Survey conclusions - Byzantine land use vs. Early Islamic landuse.
Example of regional survey results for part of the North Transect.
Excavation areas at Abila.
Aerial photograph with excavation areas labelled.
Neathery Fuller at the mouth of the Kureiba Aqueduct, just south of Ain Quilebah.
Fieldstone line the old Roman road leading to Abila.
Michael Fuller at the drafting table with the SYMAP (before GIS) printout
of the 1980 survey data.