Analysis of Mortar Samples from the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus at Umm as-Surab (Jordan)

This study presents the results of some XRD and SEM analyses carried out on mortar samples from the church of the SS. Sergius and Bacchus, in the village of Umm as-Surab, Northern Jordan. The analysis aimed at providing useful information on the building materials and technologies used in the construction of the church and adjacent rooms. Building archaeology methods and techniques were used to highlighting the complex stratigraphy of the remains and, in such context, the analyses allowed a detailed investigation of the differences between the various parts of the complex. Results suggest that during the Byzantine period mortars were produced using lime as a binder, whereas during the Islamic period mortars with decorative function were produced using a mixture of lime and gypsum as a binder. These information allow a more precise investigation of the chronology of the building and contributes to broaden our knowledge of the material culture in the Ḥawrān region.