The Ayl to Ras an-Naqab Archaeological Survey, Southern Jordan 2005-2007
by Burton MacDonald, Larry G. Herr, D. Scott Quaintance, Geoffrey A. Clark, and Michael C. A. Macdonald
Although segments of the Ayl to Ras an-Naqab territory have been investigated for the past one hundred years, this is the first comprehensive and systematic survey of the area. Two volumes, with DVD.
Although segments of the ARNAS territory have been investigated for the past one hundred years, a comprehensive and systematic survey of the area had never been undertaken prior to the work of the ARNAS team members. The main goal of the project was to discover, record, and interpret archaeological sites within the survey territory. Some other objectives included: the discovery, on the basis of the artifactual material identified, the area’s settlement patterns from the Lower Paleolithic (ca. 1.4mya) to the end of the Late Islamic period (AD 1918); a study of surface trends to determine, on the basis of the number of sites and the amount of lithics and/or sherds collected, where in the territory “settlements” were concentrated in antiquity; an investigation of the Khatt Shabib or “Shabib’s Wall,” a low stone wall running in a generally north-south direction to the east, ca. 5-10 km, of the Via Nova Traiana (Trajan’s road built between AD 111-114); and to document the rock art, tribal markings, and inscriptional material of the region. ARNAS team members accomplished the objectives of the project by transecting and recording the archaeological remains found in 140 randomly-chosen squares (500 x 500 m), covering around five percent of each of the three topographical zones of the survey territory. This resulted in a statistically valid sample of the archaeological materials of the area. In addition, team members recorded 389 archaeological sites encountered within, adjacent to, or on their way to-from the squares. Lithic archaeological periods/cultural-temporal units represented in the survey territory are: Lower Paleolithic; Lower Paleolithic/Middle Paleolithic; Middle Paleolithic; Middle Paleolithic/Upper Paleolithic; Upper Paleolithic; Upper Paleolithic/Epipaleolithic; Epipaleolithic; Pre-Pottery Neolithic; and Chalolithic/Early Bronze I. As is often the case in the deflated landscapes of Jordan, Middle Paleolithic and Middle/Upper Paleolithic combined samples are the most prevalent lithic analytical units identified in the survey. Ceramic archaeological periods/cultural-temporal units represented in the survey territory are: Chalcolithic-Early Bronze; Iron II; Nabataean; Roman; Byzantine; and Late Islamic. In addition, sherds, in small numbers and at only a few sites, from the Late Bronze, Iron I, Hellenistic, Early Islamic, and Middle Islamic are also represented. The types of sites recorded included: agriculture villages or hamlets; aqueducts; camps -probably seasonal and pastoralists; caves; cemeteries and individual tombs/graves; check dams and terraces; cisterns; farms; forts; inscriptions; knapping areas; lithic and sherd scatters; milestones; reservoirs; roads; rock art and/or tribal markings; walls; watchtowers; water catchment facilities; and winnowing areas. The accompanying DVD contains Random Square Descriptions and Images, Site Descriptions and Images, a table compiling all debitage, cores, and retouched pieces, and Settlement Pattern Maps for all of the Cultural-Temporal Unites represented at ARNAS sites.
- By (author) Geoffrey A. Clark
- By (author) Larry Herr
- By (author) Burton MacDonald
- By (author) D. Scott Quaintance
- Abridged by Michael C.A. MacDonals
"These two volumes are the latest in a series of publications of surveys in southern Jordan led by Burton MacDonald, who deserves credit for documenting a great many archaeological sites in under-investigated regions and for bringing them to publication in a timely manner. He provides much data for future analysis, as well as guidance for heritage management." -- E.B. Banning, Antiquity Publications Ltd.
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Other Titles in this Series
The Roman Aqaba Project Final Report, Volume 1
The Regional Environment and the Regional Survey
Volume 19
Cyprus and the Balance of Empires
Art and Archaeology from Justinian I to the Coeur de Lion
Volume 20
University of Michigan and University of Minnesota Excavations at Tel Kedesh I
The Hellenistic Archive and its Sealings
Volume 30
Caesarea Maritima Excavations in the Old City 1989-2003 Conducted by the University of Maryland and the University of Haifa, Final Reports
Volume 1: The Temple Platform (Area TP), Neighboring Quarters (Area TPS and Z), and the Inner Harbor Quays (Area I): Hellenistic Evidence, King Herods Harbor Temple, Intermediate Occupation, and the Octagonal Harbor Church
Volume 27
The Roman Marble Sculptures from the Sanctuary of Pan at Caesarea Philippi/Panias (Israel)
Volume 17
All Things Cypriot
Studies on Ancient Environment, Technology, and Society in Honor of Stuart Swiny
Volume 28
The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Roads between Berenike and the Nile Valley
Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987-2015
Volume 26
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