Tell It Like It Is: Discoveries from a New Survey of the Northern Jordanian Plateau


Lorenzon M., Lahelma A., Tarboush M., Holmqvist E., Daems D., Kautonen S., ...More

Near Eastern Archaeology, vol.86, no.1, pp.16-27, 2023 (AHCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 86 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1086/723459
  • Journal Name: Near Eastern Archaeology
  • Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, Art Abstracts, Art Index, Art Source, ATLA Religion Database, Humanities Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Old Testament Abstracts Online, Religion and Philosophy Collection
  • Page Numbers: pp.16-27
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This article presents the results of a joint Finnish-Jordanian survey project that focuses on investigating the interrelations of the imperial heartlands and the Levantine region in the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. We used historical satellite images to identify potential sites on the northern Jordanian plateau, after which they were systematically investigated by archaeological survey. Of the sites discovered, the fortified site of Tell al-Assara stands out owing to its prominent location, as indicated by a visibility analysis, and its massive enceinte wall made of ashlars. One of the pottery sherds found at the site bears an inscription in Aramaic. Although Tell al-Assara is remarkably well preserved, many of the sites discovered were already badly damaged by looting and urban development. These alarming developments can only be countered by closely involving local communities in fieldwork projects working in the region.