1st Edition
Pilgrims’ Castle (‘Atlit), David’s Tower (Jerusalem) and Qal‘at ar-Rabad (‘Ajlun) Three Middle Eastern Castles from the Time of the Crusades
First published in 1997, this collection includes papers on Crusader-era architecture in Palestine with a focus on ‘Atlit, the castle of ‘Ajlun and on the Citadel of Jerusalem, both the papers and sites of which have previously been difficult to access. The volume is presented partly to repair the very real deficit in the literature on Crusader architecture and partly as a fitting memorial to the author, who died in 1992. ‘Atlit in particular held a special significance for C.N. Johns, being the site of his first major project as a field archaeologist. His Guide to ‘Atlit, a masterly summary of his findings, remains the most complete and comprehensive account of the castle and its suburb.
The studies collected here pay tribute to their author’s enduring contribution to the medieval archaeology of the Near East. The first part of the book deals with the ‘Pilgrim’s Castle’, the great Templar fortress and town at ’Atlit. The significance of Johns’ excavations at this site has been relatively neglected, because it remains in a military area, inaccessible to visitors, and because almost the entire stock of his major publication was lost in 1947. This ‘Guide to ’Atlit’, a synthesis of historical, archaeological and architectural research on the monument, is reprinted here together with all the interim reports relating to the medieval period. Also included are Johns’ studies on the Citadel of Jerusalem, the ‘Tower of David’, and on the Islamic castle of ‘Ajlun. Together, they represent a fundamental contribution to the study of the period of the Crusades and to the military architecture of the Middle Ages. The notes by Denys Pringle bring the accounts up to date in the light of recent research.
1. Guide to ‘Atlit: The Crusader Castle, Town and Surroundings. Department of Antiquities. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1947. 2. Excavations at Pilgrims’ Castle (‘Atlit): The Faubourg and its Defences. Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 1. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1931. 3. Medieval Slip-Ware from Pilgrims’ Castle, ‘Atlit (1930-31). Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 3. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1934. 4. Excavations at Pilgrims’ Castle, ‘Atlit, (1932): The Ancient Tell and the Outer Defences of the Castle. Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 3. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1934. 5. Excavations at Pilgrims’ Castle, ‘Atlit (1931-32): An Unfinished Church in the Suburb. Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 4. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1935. 6. Excavations at Pilgrims’ Castle, ‘Atlit (1932-33): Stables at the South-West of the Suburb. Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 5. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1936. 7. The Citadel, Jerusalem: A Summary of Work since 1934. Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 14. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1950. 8. Medieval ‘Ajlun: I. The Castle (Qal’at ar-Rabad). Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine 1. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1931. 9. The Attempt to Colonize Palestine and Syria in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society 21. London, 1934.
Biography
C.N. Johns, Denys Pringle
Translation: 'I cannot recommend too highly that scholars of Crusader military architecture buy this book.' Bulletin Monumental, Vol. 156, No. 2 'This is an important collection for all who are studying the Crusades, and the quality of reproduction, particularly of the illustrations, is excellent.' Palestine Exploration Quarterly 'The decision to republish nine of C. N. John’s most important contributions to the archaeology of the crusader period in the Variorum Collected Studies Series is particularly welcome...pride of place must go to the first and largest item in the collection, the Guide to ’Atlit: The Crusader Castle, Town and Surroundings. Sadly almost all the copies of the original edition were destroyed before they could be distributed, and until now it has been extremely hard to find.' Medieval Archaeology, Vol. XLII 'The importance of John's work lies in its pioneering nature, and the editors of the present book should be congratulated for their initiative in publishing it... With so much material in it, the book will become an important tool for any scholar studying the mediaeval archaeology and history of Israel and Jordan.' Israel Exploation Journal
