Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of South Jordanian Iron Age II Ceramics

Dr Charlotte Whiting (CBRL Fellow), Benjamin W. Porter (Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania Museum)

Sponsors: CBRL, National Science Foundation
 

Project Aims:
This research seeks to enhance our understanding of the nature of south Jordanian Iron Age II (IA II) ceramic production, consumption, and distribution, using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). In doing so, this study aims to investigate the nature of economic and social structures of IA II communities by analysing ceramic samples from the following stratified and recently excavated Iron Age sites in southern Jordan: Khirbet el-Dabba (Whiting 2004), Tell el-Kheleifeh (Mussell 1999; Whiting 2000), Ghrareh (Hart 1988), Khirbet Ishra (Hart 1987), and Khirbet al-Megheitah (Hart 1987), and recently surveyed IA II sites from the South Jordan Iron Age II Survey and Excavation Project.