DETAILS OF THE DATABASE
The database contains detailed information of a surface survey conducted in 2024 at the site of Khirbet al-Sila', Jordan, in the principality of Tafileh, and whose results are published in the article:
Sinibaldi, M. (2025). Identifying a castle of the Crusader Lordship of Transjordan: Khirbat al-Silaʿ. Levant, 57(3), 377–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/00758914.2025.2570973.
The data provided in the excel table include coordinates, description and finds of the points of interest, date of data collection, and details of the number of fragments of the Islamic-period ceramic collected. It also includes the location of the main looting pits recorded at the site, a decision made in order to map the most problematic areas for the Jordanian authorities and help preventing the serious issue of looting at the site.
PURPOSE AND RESULTS OF THE OVERALL STUDY
The overall study had the purpose of verifying the still debated identification of the site of Khirbet as-Sila' as the site known as the Crusader castle of Celle in the Crusader Lordship of Transjordan. A study of the Arabic and Latin sources were matched with results from the surface survey at the site. The survey documented the presence of 12th century ceramics, and allowed important considerations on the topography of the site, which is very similar to the one characterizing the location of the already identified Crusader-period Petra castles. In addition, considerations on the overall settlement goals and strategies of defense adopted by the Franks in the Lordship of Transjordan showed that the site's position, allowing a broad view of a fertile landscape, of the Hajj route and the roads from the Wadi Arabah, was ideal for the castle of Celle, whose location and characteristics also correspond to those described in the documentary sources. The study has concluded that this identification, after these considerations, now rests on a solid basis.
In addition, it was decided to map the main looting pits at the site, in order to create a basis of documentation for the local authorities to intervene against this important issue.
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
The study consists of a surface survey of the site, a topographic survey of the site of the castle, and a study of the Crusader-period historical sources referred to the site.
The study related to the material culture of Khirbat as-Sila included a surface survey led by two surveyors with a handheld GPS, recording points of interest, mainly the presence of Islamic-period ceramic fragments. The points of interest have been later represented on a GIS map. The map revealed an important concentration of ceramics on a specific part of the castle, the better fortified.
The pottery was compared with the one from 12th century sites in the broader area, and could be indentified as including this time frame.
A 3D model of the 'castle', the most fortified part of the site, was created by camera, given that a drone survey was temporary not allowed because of the current conflict in the region.
