During the summer 2019 mission, surveys were carried out in the Shawbak area with the aim of investigating
the rural sites in the surroundings of the castle, focusing on the Crusader/Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. The
surveys were based on previous research, satellite and aerial imagery and were planned in order to identify
reliable sample sites (among a total of 37) that can provide data on the rural settlement patterns of Shawbak
in a period that until now has been considered of little interest in this area. Two sites were surveys in the
Shwbak and Nijil town area (Site 25, UTM: 36N 745489 3378531; Site 26, UTM: 36N 744268 3379452),
recording a primary Late Roman and Byzantine occupation, while two other sites were investigated near Al
Juhayr. One of them is a freshwater spring (Site 31, UTM: 36N 740646 3379866), equipped with a well and a
catchment channel system, recently rebuilt by local farmers.
The most promising site identified until now is Khirbet Shbeika (Site 10, UTM: 36N 740476 3381728) , or
Umm Shbeik, located on a small foreland on the slope that outlooks towards the Wadi Arabah, 1.8 km north
from the village of Al Juhayr. On the top of the small mound were identified the remains of a probable
clustered village whose structures have collapsed on the sides of the hill. The site is surrounded by still
cultivated wheat fields and abandoned terraces on the lower and the upper slope. On the western and
northern sides square and semicircular structures, sloping towards south, were identified. In the south-west
area a small dried stream runs besides what could be the remains of deserted terraces. The stream originates
from two dried springs on the eastern upper slope, were a small graveyard was also identified. In the northern
portion of the site, maybe related to the fence-like structures, a large wheat mill lays at the center of a square
building with round corners. The walls of the building (as many other walls of the village) seem to have been
partially rebuilt with dry masonry. The mill, probably made of limestone, has a diameter of 1.87 m. An upper
mill wheel lays on the slope of the mound 5 meters north-west from it. On the site looting holes were also
recorded, providing the chance to observe the depth of the archaeological deposit and to record masonries
spoiled by illegal excavations. Surface pottery finds include a majority of HMGP and HM undecorated sherds,
with a little concentration of Late Roman and Byzantine sherds. At this preliminary phase of the research the
survey at Khirbet Shbeika suggests that the site could sustain a certain intensity of production, maybe in the
Middle and Late Islamic periods.