Taking the pulse of archaeology in Jordan.

Taking the pulse of archaeology in Jordan. RUSSELL B. ADAMS (ed.). Jordan: ah archaeological reader, xviii+582pages, 164 illustrations, 23 tables. 2008. London: Equinox;978-1-84553-037-2 paperback 29.99 [pounds sterling]. STEVEN E. FALCONER & PATRICIA L. FALL with ILYA BERELOV &MARY C. METZGER. Bronze Age rural ecology and village life at Tellel-Hayyat, Jordan (British Archaeological Reports International Series1586). 274 pages, illustrations, CD-ROM. 2006. Oxford: Archaeopress;978-1-84171-799-9 paperback 37 [pounds sterling]. GRAEME BARKER, DAVID GILBERTSON & DAVID MATTINGLY (ed.).Archaeology and desertification: the Wadi Faynan Landscape Survey,southern Jordan (Wadi Faynan Series 2; Levant Supplementary Series 6).xxvi+510 pages, 398 illustrations, 69 tables, CD-ROM. 2007. Oxford:Oxbow; 978-1-84217-286-5 hardback 70 [pounds sterling]. The three volumes under review in some ways provide a barometer forthe development of archaeological research in Jordan in recent decades,and prospects for its future. Jordan is a relatively young country witha complex history, changing borders and political fortunes, andexceptional growth in population and economy in recent times. Acombination of factors, including Jordan's relative politicalstability and ease of working (compared with neighbouring countries),and of course the richness of its sites and diverse landscapes, hasattracted many to conduct excavations and surveys there. Yet there arestill considerable barriers to the advancement of archaeology in Jordanthat go beyond fieldwork, such as the time lag in bringing finalpublication to fruition or the vast accumulation and availability ofarchaeological data gathered over the years. From these three verydifferent books, it becomes clear that archaeology in Jordan is enteringa mature phase, with a strong tendency for anthropologically based andprocessual approaches, arising partly through the emergence ofprehistoric archaeology and often overshadowing traditionalculture-historical approaches (such as those employed in Biblicalarchaeology). Jordan revisited Jordan: an archaeological reader, edited by Russell Adams, is a newedition of the volume co-edited by MacDonald et al., The archaeology ofJordan (2001), which brought together for the first time syntheticstudies of periods ranging from the Palaeolithic to the Ottoman by thosewho have made significant contributions to fieldwork and research,including (amongst others) Graham Philip, Stephen Bourke, Stephan Schmidand Alan Walmsley. In addition to updating existing chapters, Adams hadmade this new paperback edition more affordable and therefore moreaccessible. It will be particularly useful for students of Near Easternarchaeology, as a close equal to Levy's Archaeology of society inthe Holy Land (1995), which despite broad remits, only partlyacknowledged Jordan's past. It differs in structure from CrossingJordan (Levy et al. 2007), which presents site-based perspectives ofmajor North American archaeological projects in Jordan. All threevolumes, however, are similar in style and approach, especially as manycontributors have emerged from the 'New Archaeology'generation. As a result, traditional culture-historical explanations areoften substituted for anthropologically-based models. Yet, forAdams' volume, the integration of theory is patchy, still largelythe preserve of chapters that assess prehistoric periods. Chapters onthe Late Bronze Age (from c. 1550 BC) onwards tend to rely more uponwritten sources to interpret archaeological patterning than on buildingup an independent archaeological picture. One is struck by the imbalancebetween, on the one hand, the richness and quantity of archaeologicaldata available to some authors, and for others the struggle to makesense of patchy data across different sub-regions of Jordan.Freeman's observation regarding the archaeology of Roman Jordancould be equally applied to other periods: 'the overall impressionis detailed knowledge in a few limited spheres, a volume of largelyundigested data in others, and a number of glaring gaps in certainfundamental areas' (p. 435). Nevertheless, Adams' volumeprovides a very useful foundation for further research, especially nowthat the gaps can be clearly identified. Several feature chapters in the 2001 volume are sadly omitted oronly part-integrated. Parts of Michele Piccirillo's chapter on theMosaics of Jordan, for example, could easily have been incorporated intothe Byzantine and Ummayad chapters in the new volume. A welcome chapteris Adams' focus on the history of archaeology in Jordan, showinghow it was shaped by colonial and post-colonial factors, as well aspolitics and war. In particular, the 1967 Six-day War was a watersheddate for foreign archaeologists working in the region, marking the startof a new era for foreign institutions (especially British and American)setting up schools in Amman after it became impossible to work in theWest Bank. Jordanian archaeology has never really been considered as aseparate 'national' discipline, due to the similarity of thearchaeological material found in Israel and the Palestine Territories.Yet, simply through its presence, this book goes some way towardsbuilding the status of archaeology in Jordan as nationally defined.Ironically, however, most archaeological research in Jordan, asreflected by the contributors to this volume, continues to be dominatedby the North American, West European and Australian archaeologists whowork in partnership with the Department of Antiquities in Jordan. Tell el-Hayyat A good example of early 1980s approaches to archaeology is Falconer& Fall's Bronze Age rural economy and village life at Tellel-Hayyat. It is difficult to define this volume. Its eight chapterscontain what at first appears to be a final report of the excavation ofa Middle Bronze Age temple and houses at Tell el-Hayyat, alongside asynthesis of the ancient environment and economy of the Central JordanValley. Chapters detail methods and findings and present plans, sectionsand photographs from the excavation, but there are missing elementsnormally expected of a final report. A chapter on ceramics is present,but corresponding chapters on metalwork, beads and pendants or bone andstone tools are absent. These artefacts are listed briefly in anAppendix (and on the CD-ROM) and only a few are illustrated. The premise for this volume is stated early on: 'We areparticularly interested in portraying sedentary agrarian life in smallrural communities, which often eludes larger studies focused on urbancentres and general questions of culture history' (p. 18). This iscertainly true of the archaeology of the early to mid second millenniumBC, traditionally focused on large settlements with public buildings,with findings viewed through culture-historical eyes. The authorsinstead use approaches often deployed by prehistoric archaeologists andapply them to text-based models of rural/urban settlement from theAncient Near East. According to its excavators, Tell el-Hayyat was a modest villagewith a population of 150-200. A small community temple stood at thecentre of the village, which was part of a wider regional settlementsystem led by more significant 'urban' centres (such asPella). Because so few aspects of the site's local economy appearto be linked to external markets, the authors suggest it was a villageof autonomous households, perhaps within a collectively owned village.This is a tempting idea, but may stretch the available evidence, whichis based on excavations of two houses and one small temple. Their most significant contribution is the careful collection andstudy of animal and plant remains. The findings integrate the domesticand cultic social spheres with the environmental sphere in a highlyilluminating way. For example, they suggest that as the temple increasedin size and elaboration over its four hundred-year history, so did thefrequency of offerings, manifested by sheep and goat bones and seedsfrom cereals, legumes and fruits (olive, grape and fig). Such a detailedpicture of the range of produce and seasonality of ritual is invaluable,particularly as so few comparable sites have had such material collectedand analysed. Surprisingly, there is no mention of butchery marks onanimal bones, despite the significant comparative information this mayprovide on sacrificial ritual in the Middle Bronze Age (e.g. Klenck2002). There is an interesting suggestion as to why pig bone quantitiesmay fluctuate at archaeological sites, a feature greatly elevated ininterpretations of ethnicity and foodways in Biblical archaeology. AtHayyat, pig bones are found in houses, but not in the temple area,suggesting they were probably taboo within religious settings. Theauthors suggest that pig husbandry was discouraged by urban-basedauthorities who preferred villagers to keep mobile and sheep and goatherds transferred as taxes or offerings. Therefore, variations inquantities of pig on rural sites could be a barometer for urbaninstitutional involvement, rather than an ethnic marker. Formalist and functional explanations of village economy and lifeat Tell el-Hayyat are a marked feature of this book. The unseen hand ofthe regional market economy permeates most of the interpretations. Thereis no focus on aspects of social agency or ritual performance, littlediscussion of how temple space was used, and little synthesis ofresearch on other Middle Bronze Age temples and ritual in the widerSouthern Levant. Despite these shortcomings, the Tell el-Hayyat volumeis important because it shows how careful and focused excavation withspecial attention paid to environmental data can yield significantresults. But without comparable material from other sites, Tellel-Hayyat remains an isolated case study. The Wadi Faynan The final book reviewed here is Barker, Gilbertson &Mattingly's report (published by the Council for British Researchin the Levant) of the Wadi Faynan Landscape Survey. The Wadi Faynan, isromantically described as 'a harshly beautiful desertic landscapein southern Jordan situated between the Wadi 'Arabah and the ruggedand wetter Mountains of Edom to the east'. The Wadi FaynanLandscape Survey is a major project undertaken by a diverse group ofarchaeologists and geographers. The archaeologists come largely fromprehistoric and Classical archaeology backgrounds, reflecting thedominant eras represented by the survey. This report sets a highstandard for other surveys in terms of its robust methodology,systematic recording and analysis, and promptness of publication. Theproject directors, editors, and contributors should be congratulated forproducing a dear, well illustrated, sufficiently detailed, easy to useand comprehensive report. It is divided into two main parts each divided into severalchapters. Part I begins with the project's development and researchthemes. The chapter 'Past and present landscapes of the WadiFaynan' provides a detailed study of the changing environment overtime, including surprisingly successful results from pollen cores takenfrom alluvial deposits in this arid zone. A chapter on the Wadi Faynantoday details its history over the past century, showing how relevantissues of changing environment, economy and lifestyle are for thecurrent and future sustainability of this marginal area. The chapter onrecording and classifying the archaeological record is valuableconsidering the numerous types of visible surface remains in varyingstates of preservation. Finally, a chapter on the ancient Wadi Faynanfield systems is a detailed case-study of the largest physical featureat the survey's heart. It illustrates the complex management offlood water from springs and wadis through sluices, dams and channels,largely preserved from the Nabataean period onward, although there areindications of floodwater farming much earlier in the Early Bronze Age.The ability to manage water within this harsh environment is key tounderstanding the long-term survival and adaptation of WadiFaynan's inhabitants, past, present and future. Part II, 'Chronological syntheses', presents the WadiFaynan over time, from the Pleistocene to the Ottoman period. A finalchapter on ethnoarchaeology brings the survey into the present era.Printed appendices on radiocarbon dates and Classical and Islamicpottery are supplemented by additional appendices on a CD, including theessential site gazetteer (almost 250 pages with colour photographs),specialist chapters on other artefacts, and files presenting GIS mapsand data. Convenient summaries of the project's findings in Englishand Arabic are found at the end of the book. The survey gives a remarkably detailed overview of long-term changein environment and settlement over time. In the Pleistocene andHolocene, the Wadi Faynan was better watered by springs and rainfallthan the relatively arid highlands, attracting hunter-gatherers andearly farming communities. Significant exploitation of Faynan'srich copper resources began in the Chalcolithic, intensifying in theEarly Bronze Age, when the region became densely settled by farmers andherders, as well as those engaged in copper mining. Increasing aridity,coupled with a decline in trade relations with Egypt from around 2500 BCled to near abandonment until the Iron Age when copper mining once againbecame important for the Edomites and Nabataeans. As Wadi Faynan enters the historical record as Roman Phaino, sounfolds a sophisticated picture of the copper mines within an imperialsetting. According to various sources, this was a place of enslavement,particularly for Christians during the Great Persecution of the earlyfourth century AD. The Wadi Faynan survey adds to this scenario byshowing that people other than slaves must have also lived and workedthere. The Byzantine era of the fifth-sixth centuries saw theestablishment of churches at Faynan to commemorate Christian martyrs andan influx of Christian residents, their presence manifested by manycemeteries. The Islamic period (mid-seventh century onwards) is characterisedby a settlement decline following the end of mining operations. A briefMamluk resurgence, followed by the largely pastoralist phase of theOttoman period, brings the study into the modern era. A key issue hereis the identification and dating of pastoralists' camps and pens.Palmer's Bedouin Camp Survey (Chapter 12) is valuable in that itcharacterises archaeological remains left by such groups that mightotherwise be difficult to identify. For example, the near absence ofdiagnostic finds from the Middle, Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages(2000-800 BC) within the survey zone is contrasted with radiocarbondates showing that pastoralist groups continued to visit the areathroughout this long period. The title Archaeology and desertification relates not only to thesemi-arid environment of the Wadi Faynan, but to a wider intention to'contribute to the desertification debate by applying moderninterdisciplinary landscape archaeology and geoarchaeology to a regionalcase study, in order to provide a long-term perspective on therelationship between environmental change and human history in aridlands' (p. 8). This involved framing research questions aroundwhether environmental change in any given period took place because ofclimatic or human agency. Such big questions are of course essential tomaking the findings of this survey applicable to other semi-arid regionsof the Middle East and North Africa, for example David Mattingly'sDesert Migrations Project in Libya or Stephen Mithen's Water, Lifeand Civilisation Project. But do the survey findings significantly contribute to the'desertification debate'? The answer is yes and no. As mightbe expected with detailed surveys, the authors argue that the WadiFaynan is unique in its character and historical development. Ultimately, limited survey size and variables affectingenvironmental change, such as industrial pollution from ancient coppermining, make it difficult to compare the results of this survey withother studies of contemporary desertification. The authors conclude thatstatus and productivity of the area 'was sustained byeconomic-social-political drivers located tens, hundreds, or thousandsof miles distant' (p. 413), thus giving more primacy to collectivehuman agency than to environmental change. In summary, these three books show that, although there is muchstill to do, the archaeology of Jordan has entered a relatively healthystage of maturity, with interpretations of greater depth and complexity.Adams' volume reflects the rich diversity of Jordan'sarchaeology. Some areas of research have not yet moved beyond normativeapproaches, others receive more thorough examination and offertheoretically-grounded interpretations. This has much to do with theacademic rigour and discipline of a diverse spectrum of archaeologistsand their interdisciplinary partners currently working in Jordan. References MACDONALD, B., R. ADAMS & P. BIENKOWSKI (ed.). 2001. Thearchaeology of Jordan. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press. KLENCK, J.D. 2002. The Canaanite cultic milieu: thezooarchaeological evidence from Tel Haror Israel (BAR InternationalSeries 1029). Oxford: Archaeopress. LEVY, T.E. 1995. The Archaeology of society in the Holy Land.Leicester: Leicester University Press. LEVY, T.E., EM. DAVIAU & R.W. YOUNKER. 2007. Crossing Jordan:North American contributions to the archaeology of Jordan. London:Equinox. John D.M. Green, Department of Antiquities, Ashmolean Museum,University of Oxford, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH, UK (Email:jack.green@ashmus.ox.ac.uk)