The Nabataean temple at Khirbet et-Tannur is a sanctuary site known to all classical archaeologists. Located in southern Jordan, on the road to Petra, it occupies a secluded hilltop close to the more extensive settlement site of Khirbet edh-Dharih. The sanctuary's famous sculptures, now displayed in the splendid new National Museum of Amman, will be recognised by anyone with an interest in the Roman Near East. Study of the architecture and historical development of the temple, however, has been relatively neglected since Nelson Glueck undertook excavations at the site in 1937. Furthermore, comprehensive publication of the finds contextualised by architectural phasing has until now been missing. The authors of the two volumes under review stress it is high time that Glueck's work was made fully available to the wider scholarly community. The resulting substantial, multi-authored and richly illustrated volumes have been compiled under the competent guidance of Judith S. McKenzie, who has also written large parts of both volumes. The publication is based on the material excavated by Glueck during his 1937 campaign and extensive work has been done in order to contextualise as much of the material as possible. McKenzie observes that, although much could be learned through new excavations, the material left by Glueck is so plentiful that it deserved a publication of its own. Sifting through these rich volumes, one can only agree.

Volume 1, on architecture and religion, is divided into five chapters: an introduction to the site and its discovery as well as an outline of the authors’ agenda; the architecture and its phases; the iconographic programme; religious practice; and, finally, a chapter on iconoclasm at Khirbet et-Tannur and Petra. Volume 2 is structured into three chapters pertaining to Glueck's excavation records followed by ten specialist reports: Nabataean inscriptions, altars, animal bones, plant remains, metals, lamps, pottery, two reports on glassware (typology and chemical analysis) and a contribution on an ultra-high carbon steel door hinge. Both volumes are richly illustrated with black and white as well as colour illustrations, and are supplied with indices. In addition, Volume 1 has a glossary and a large bibliography.

Volume 1 focuses on Glueck's work, the sanctuary and its development, the architecture and sculpture, as well as the finds related to the religious practices undertaken at the site over centuries of use, with the main phases of activity being between the second century BC and the mid fourth century AD. The volume includes transcriptions of Glueck's letters (Appendix 1.2), which describe the dramatic circumstances in which the finds were shipped to the USA, highlighting the political and military tensions of the period that were to change the Middle East profoundly. The architectural development of the sanctuary is described in great detail in Chapter 2, and it is impressive just how much information the authors have been able to extract from the archives, excavation diaries and Glueck's personal communications. This chapter is followed by a detailed appendix listing the sculptural and architectural fragments and other finds now in the Cincinnati Art Museum. Chapter 3, concerning the sculptural programme, is richly illustrated and presents descriptions and interpretations of all the fragments. The chapter on religious practice is based on the architecture of the sanctuary and comparisons with other cult sites, as well as drawing on the finds that relate to cultic practice at the site, such as foodstuffs, the enigmatic offertory boxes cut into the paving surrounding the Altar Platform, stelai, altars and lamps. Chapter 5 on iconoclasm shows that we must revise the assumed interpretation that iconoclasts were at work at Khirbet et-Tannur before the mid fourth century AD. McKenzie shows that this was not the case and that destruction only took place after this date.

Volume 2 is devoted to analysis of Glueck's excavation records, through which McKenzie shows just how much information is still to be gained from this archive. Part II of the volume concentrates on specialist reports on the excavated materials and finds, offering new interpretations or insights based on re-study or the use of new methods. Examples of the latter include electron microprobe analysis of glass finds, providing new information about provenance and possible phases of glass recycling. Chapter 18, on the pottery, is accompanied by a well-illustrated catalogue with high-quality drawings.

These two well-produced volumes present a wonderful and much-needed overview of the material from Glueck's excavations at Khirbet et-Tannur. Thanks to the work of Judith McKenzie and her collaborators, the results of this important excavation are, for the first time, available in a compact and comprehensive format. It is impossible to underline just how important this publication will be to scholars who take an interest in the Near East during the late Hellenistic and Roman periods. Anyone who wants to know anything about Khirbet et-Tannur must now start by consulting these volumes.