Projects
E-mail: utsav@asu.edu
The Lower Paleolithic in Jordan The Middle Paleolithic in Jordan The Upper Paleolithic in Jordan (under construction) The Epi-Paleolithic in Jordan (under construction) The Neolithic in Jordan (under construction) The Chalcholithic in Jordan (under construction)
* Karak Resources Project Prehistoric Survey:
The Karak Plateau in Jordan has been subjected to extensive survey in the past. The most thorough report on these surveys to date however does not include any information on the prehistoric periods. The earliest, systematically, investigated period is the Chalcolithic (Miller 1991: 27). The survey here presented is designed to fill that gap. Operating under the general survey included in the Karak Resources Project (KRP), the KRP Prehistoric Survey will examine rudimentary collections made over the past decades and will conduct original survey of the plateau.
The KRP, directed by Dr. G. Mattingly, is designed to document ways in which inhabitants of Jordan's Karak plateau have utilized available natural resources, including site location and access to local and long-distance trade goods. Its focus is mainly on the non-prehistoric occupation of the plateau, but recently a commitment has been made to include research on the prehistoric periods. Since knowledge of prehistoric occupation is very limited to nonexistent it is essential that a systematic survey of at least a random sample of the plateau be conducted. Dr. C. Bartlett, a geologist associated with the project, started recording site locations and collecting some artifacts last field season. His collection, consisting of 266 tools from at least 25 different site locations, indicates that the prehistoric occupation is quite elaborate. This seems confirmed by Dr. G. Mattingly, who has encountered large numbers of prehistoric artifacts on numerous instances in the field.
Dr. C. Bartlett and myself will conduct the survey in close cooperation with members of the KRP “General” Survey. The survey will largely benefit from other research in the area conducted by geomorphologists, geologists, hydrologists, botanists, and other archaeologists. Dr. Bartlett and I will have all the necessary equipment such as maps (scale 1/25000), GPS, GIS software, and a jeep at our disposal. A primary goal of this field season will be to revisit the site locations previously recorded to expand the sample size and to include “non-tool” artifacts. The artifacts will be morphologically compared to ones found in the immediate surroundings of the plateau, areas in which extensive prehistoric survey has been conducted such as the Wadi Hasa, the Lehun area, and the Madaba Plains. Further a random sample of the plateau will be subjected to systematic survey in order to estimate prehistoric site density and extend our knowledge of the prehistoric occupation of the region in general.
The method of survey will largely consist of systematically walking predefined areas in the landscape. Where possible inferences will be made on relative chronological position of sites based on, but not limited to, morphological characterization and stratigraphical position of the assemblages. Finally an attempt will be made to assess the value of possible in situ deposits as to make reasonable evaluation for further investigation. This might include digging test pits at sites of conceived considerable value when deemed appropriate. The results of the field-season as well as consecutive analysis of the assemblages will go into my MA Thesis and intended publications.
Miller, J. M., (ed.) (1991) Archaeological Survey of the Kerak Plateau (American Schools of Oriental Research Archaeological Reports, 1) Atlanta, Ga, Scholars Press.
Links to the KRP: *Karak Resources Project 1995 (report)
*Karak Resources Project 1997 (pictures as well as other stuff)