Down the drain: reconstructing social practice from the content of two sewers in a Late Antique bathhouse in Jerash, Jordan

• Louise Blanke ^[1] ; Pernille Bangsgaard ^[2] ; Stephen McPhillips ^[4] ; Raffaella Pappalardo ^[5] ; Tim Penn ^[3]
  1. [1] University of Edinburgh

     University of Edinburgh

     Reino Unido

     
  2. [2] University of Copenhagen

     University of Copenhagen

     Dinamarca

     
  3. [3] University of Reading

     University of Reading

     Reino Unido

     
  4. [4] UMR 8167, Orient et Méditerranée, Paris
  5. [5] Independent Researcher, ceramicist, Late Antique Jerash Project

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• Localización: Journal of Roman archaeology, ISSN 1047-7594, Vol. 37, Nº. 1, 2024, págs. 241-263
• Idioma: inglés
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  • This contribution examines social practices in the Central Bathhouse in Jerash in Late Antiquity based on the ceramic assemblage, vessel glass, faunal remains, and small finds retrieved from two sections of the bathhouse's sewer. We argue that although the bathhouse underwent significant architectural alterations from its construction in the 4th c. CE to its abandonment in the late 7th, the activities taking place inside the building remained largely the same. Our study shows that even towards the end of the bathhouse's lifespan, bodily grooming remained integral to the bathing experience, while food and drink were consumed on the premises even though the bathing facilities had been reduced to a bare minimum. The faunal remains indicate the type of food consumed, while the small finds illustrate a lively environment where gaming and gambling took place in a social space frequented by men, women, and children.