The Ayyubid complex of Khirbat al-Dusaq and the Syrian Hajj Route

Résumé En

The site of Khirbat al-Dusaq is located 5 km east of Shawbak Castle. This complex consists in three visible buildings, among them are a reception iwan and a rich hammam. Since 2014, the archaeological study of the site is conducted by a team from the French Institute for the Near East (Ifpo). The excavation project includes the use of photogrammetry and 3D reconstruction. In 2015, the analysis of the architectural typology of the bathhouse as well as the study of the pottery material led us to date the buildings from the 13th century. Then, during the 2016 excavation campaign, the inscribed lintel of the hammam entrance has been found, bearing the name of the founder and the year of construction. Since this crucial discovery, a new light has been shed on this site. Thanks to data from the Medieval narrative sources, it appears that Khirbat al-Dusaq is linked with the patronage of an Ayyubid prince of Damascus on the Syrian Hajj Route. This paper aims at presenting the results of the 2016 and 2017 excavation campaigns and at enlightening the nature and the raison d’être of such a complex in that region.