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[Plan with measurements of house. Architectural and decorative details at bottom.
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About 50 minutes up the Wadi is-Sîr from 'Arak il-Emîr are the scattered ruins called Khirbit il-Bardhôn. On a comparatively level plateau around which the Wadi curves is the ruin of a building of irregular shape which may have been a house of sort of castle. On the slope above it are many tombs, chiefly double arcosolia excavated one on either side for a deep grave which is covered with a huge sarcophagus lid. On the slope above the wadi facing N.N.E. are the remains of a small building [like] a grotto and a mosaic floor. In the valley are the ruins of a huge dam and a mill both undoubtedly ancient.
Few remails of importance exist now at any of these points. The large building is of interest for its plan. The remains of
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Last edit 9 months ago by Lrhudgins
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deeply spayed windows and two lintels carved with [ornament] in low relief both of the general character of that shown in the drawing, consisting of discs and other ornaments. One of them is too badly weathered to permit of reproduction.
The grotto, where there is said to be a spring is completely paved with large coarse white mosaic. Two side walls project from the hillside, and between them are two bases of columns with pedestals. One of these is in situ. In the immediate vicinity a capital of unusual form was found and a section of architecture which seems to fit the capital
The details are defaced classic, but have distinct signs of being of Christian origin, are more more likely oriental translations of classic forms, and of pagan origin.
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[illustration, cross section of valley with location of aqueduct]
There are many indications that the ruin in the bottom of the valley was a dam, whether for mills or for the water supply of Tyros it is difficult to state. The stones are of dimentions larger that were commonly used in the Middle Ages or are used by the natives today. Opposite the ruins on the right bank, an incision about 3 m. deep and 4 m. wide has been made in the solid rock for the core of the dam. Above the dam are two high ruins of an ancient mill similar to those in use today along the Wadi is-Eîr.
