Ceramics in Transition: Production and Exchange of Late Byzantine-Early Islamic Pottery in Southern Transjordan and the Negev

Description

Ceramics in Transition focuses on the utilitarian ceramic traditions during the socio-political transition from the late Byzantine into the early Islamic Umayyad and ‘Abbasid periods, c. 6th–9th centuries CE in southern Transjordan and the Negev. These regions belonged to the Byzantine province of Palaestina Tertia, before Islamic administrative reorganisation in the mid-7th century. Cooking ware and ceramic containers were investigated from five archaeological sites representing different socio-economic contexts, the Jabal Harûn monastery, the village of Khirbet edh-Dharih, the port city of ‘Aqaba/Aila, the town of Elusa in the Negev, and the suburban farmstead of Abu Matar. The ceramics were typo-chronologically categorised and subjected to geochemical and micro-structural characterisation via X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) to geochemically ‘fingerprint’ the sampled ceramics and to identify production clusters, manufacturing techniques, ceramic distribution patterns, and material links between rural-urban communities as well as religious-secular communities. The ceramic data demonstrate economic wealth continuing into the early Islamic periods in the southern regions, ceramic exchange systems, specialized manufacture and inter-regional, long-distance ceramic transport. The potters who operated in the southern areas in the formative stages of the Islamic period reformulated their craft to follow new influences diffusing from the Islamic centres in the north. Table of Contents Preface Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Southern Transjordan and the Negev in the late Byzantine and early Islamic periods Chapter 3 Archaeological sites Chapter 4 Ceramic technologies, provenance and exchange Chapter 5 Catalogue of the analysed ceramic artefacts Chapter 6 Geochemical and microstructural ED-XRF and SEM-EDS data Chapter 7 From production centres to regional and inter-regional ceramic transport Chapter 8 Ceramic data in context: analytical, archaeological and historical evidence Bibliography Appendices I-VIII Cover Title Page Copyright page Contents Page Cover List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1 Introduction Figure 1.1: Locations of the archaeological sites included in this study. The Byzantine borders are approximate. For an illustration of the Islamic provincial divisions, see, e.g., Walmsley. Figure 2.1: Map of sites discussed in the text. Figure 2.2: Detail of Figure 2.1. Archaeological sites included in this study (Khirbet edh-Dharih, Jabal Harûn, ‘Aqaba/Aila/, Elusa and Abu Matar in Beersheva), and Byzantine and Islamic sites cited in the text. Figure 3.1: Jabal Harûn site and the sampled Trenches (adapted from Fiema 2016: Fig.1). Figure 3.2: Khirbet edh-Dharih site general plan (Jean Humbert, Dharih Jordanian and French Archaeological Project, 2007). Figure 3.3: Site plan of Elusa (adapted from Bucking and Goldfus 2012: Fig. 2; and Negev 1993a: 379). Figure 3.4: Abu Matar, Area B (after Gilead et al. 1993: 98, Fig. 114). Figure 3.5: Locations of the areas excavated by the Roman ‘Aqaba project discussed in the text (after Parker 2014: Fig. 5). Figure 5.1: Cooking pot lid (sample JH004) recovered at Jabal Harûn. Figure 5.2: Open-form cooking pot (sample DH001) recovered at Khirbet edh-Dharih. Figure 5.3: Locations of sites discussed in relation to open-form cooking pots. Figure 5.4. Closed-form cooking pot (sample A0001) recovered at Aila/’Aqaba. Figure 5.5: Basin with incised decoration sample (DH008) recovered at Jabal Harûn. Figure 5.6: Locations of sites discussed in relation to basins. Figure 5.7 Jar with incised decoration (sample JH014) recovered at Jabal Harûn. Figure 5.8: Painted jar (sample JH015) recovered at Jabal Harûn. Figure 5.9: Locations of sites discussed in relation to high-necked jars with painted or incised decoration. Figure 5.10: Jar with a thickened, folded rim (sample DH024) recovered at Khirbet edh-Dharih. Figure 5.11: Leaf-pattern jar sherd (sample DH027) recovered at Khirbet edh-Dharih. Figure 5.12: Locations of sites discussed in relation to leaf-pattern jars. Figure 5.13: Bag-shaped jar (sample JH023) recovered at Jabal Harûn. Figure 5.14: Strainer jug (sample DH029) recovered at Khirbet edh-Dharih. Figure 5.15: Elusa jar (sample E011) recovered at Elusa. Figure 5.16: ‘Aqaba/Aila amphora (sample A017) recovered at Aila/’Aqaba. Figure 5.17: Jar (LR 1) (sample E013) recovered in Elusa. Figure 5.18: Elusa kiln wasters (samples E017 and E019). Figure 5.19: Engraved (Kerbschnitt) sherds (samples JH034 and E012) recovered at Jabal Harûn and Elusa. Figure 5.20: Glazed sherd (sample DH041) recovered at Khirbet edh-Dharih. Figure 5.21: ‘Khirbet al-Mafjar’ cream ware (sample AM019) recoved at Abu Matar. Figure 6.1: Dendrogram of the hierarchical cluster analysis of the ED-XRF data and indicated compositional groups. Figure 6.2: ED-XRF data: PCA plots of the first two PCs, from top: samples marked by main cluster analysis groups; component plot of elements; samples marked by site. Figure 6.3: Detail of the ED-XRF data cluster analysis dendrogram (see Figure 6.1) showing groups 1a–c and 2. Figure 6.4: SEM-BSE micrographs of ceramic fabrics of group 1 samples (scale bar 1mm, the long axes of the images are parallel with the vessel surfaces), from top: an open-form cooking pot A001, a roof tile JH037 and a bag-shaped amphora DH028, showing po Figure 6.5: SEM-BSE micrograph of sample A007 (scale bar 300 μm, the long axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces), showing mineral inclusions of quartz, plagioclase, biotite, and a Fe-rich clay pellet, the bright grains are ilmenite. Figure 6.6: Detail of the ED-XRF data cluster analysis dendrogram (see Figure 6.1). showing groups 3a–c, 4 and 5. Figure 6.7: Bivariate plot of CaO and ZrO2 values measured in ED-XRF analysis for cluster analysis main compositional groups 1 and 3. Figure 6.8: SEM-BSE micrographs of group 3 samples (scale bar 1 mm, the long axes of the images are parallel with the vessel surfaces), from top: a closed form cooking pot A002, and a leaf-pattern sherd JH022, showing quartz and Fe-rich clay pellets, the Figure 6.10: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 5 sample JH035 (scale bar 1mm, the long axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing poorly sorted fabric with quartz, clay pellets (Fe, Mn and Ba-rich), augite, and iron oxides and rounded pore Figure 6.9: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 4 sample DH030 (scale bar 1 mm, the long axes of theimage are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing clay pellets and quartz, the bright inclusions are zircon and rutile. Figure 6.11: Detail of the ED-XRF data cluster analysis dendrogram (see Figure 6.1) showing groups 6a–c and 7. Figure 6.12: Bivariate plot of CaO and SrO concentrations of group 6 samples in the ED-XRF analysis. Figure 6.13: SEM-BSE micrographs of group 6 (scale bar 300 μm, the long axes of the images are paralle with the vessel surfaces) samples, from top: AM001, and E005, showing rounded quartz, clay pellets, and K-feldspars (AM001), the bright grains are zirco Figure 6.14: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 7 (scale bar 1 mm, the horizontal axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces) sample AM014 showing quartz and clay pellets and rounded pores, the bright particles are Fe-rich clay pellets, iron oxides Figure 6.15: Detail of the ED-XRF data cluster analysis dendrogram (see Figure 6.1) showing groups 8a–f. Figure 6.16: SEM-BSE micrographs of group 8 samples (scale bar 1 mm, the long axes of the images are parallel with the vessel surfaces), representing the ‘Aqaba amphorae, from top left A020, top right: DH032, below left JH028 and below right E014, showing Figure 6.17: Detail of the ED-XRF data cluster analysis dendrogram (see Figure 6.1) showing groups 9, 10a–b, and 11–13. Figure 6.18: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 9 sample AM016 (scale bar 300 μm, the long axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing calcite (top left corner) and quartz. The bright grains are zircon, ilmenite and grossular. Figure 6.19: Bivariate plot of CaO and SrO concentrations of group 6 (Elusa and Abu Matar cooking pots) and group 10 (local to Elusa) samples (ED-XRF data). Figure 6.20: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 10 sample E018 (a waster from the Elusa workshop, scale bar 1mm, the long axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing quartz and Fe-rich clay pellets. The bright grains are iron oxides and ilme Figure 6.21: SEM-BSE backscatter micrograph of group 11 sample AM013 (scale bar 300 μm, the long axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing quartz, K-feldspar and apatite inclusions. The bright grains are ilmenite, magnetite and ulvi Figure 6.22: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 12 sample DH041 (scale bar 1mm), showing quartz, augite, plagioclase and clay pellets. The bright grains are ilmenite, iron oxides and Ti- and Fe-rich pellets. The vessel is coated with Cu-coloured alkaline glaze. Figure 6.23: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 13 sample A018 (scale bar 1mm, the horizontal axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces), showing a relatively fine grained ceramic fabric with mineral inclusions of quartz, almandine, chromite and au Figure 6.24: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 14 sample JH034 (scale bar 1mm, the long axes of the image are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing bimodal mineral inclusions of angular quartz and smaller-sized bright grains of ilmenite, rutile, titanite a Figure 6.25: SEM-BSE micrograph of group 15 sample AM020 (scale bar 1mm) showing quartz, clay pellets, augite, biotite and K-feldspars and rounded pores. The bright inclusions are Mn and Fe-rich clay pellets, iron oxides and ilmenite. The vessel exterior Figure 6.26 SEM-SE microsgraphs (scale bar 60 μm, the long axes of the images are parallel with the vessel surfaces) showing ceramic matrices of samples A008 (top left), AM020 (top right), DH001 (middle left), E018 (middle right), JH003 (bottom left) and Figure 7.1: Material exchange between the sampled sites based on the analytical (ED-XRF, SEM-EDS) results. The thickness of the lines corresponds to the strength of contacts as indicated by the analysed samples. Figure 7.2. The suspected source and identified consumption areas of the primary compositional groups based on the ED-XRF and SEM-EDS results. Figure 7.3: Open-form cooking pots: suspected source areas (possibly indicating local/regional workshops) and sites with typological parallels. Figure 7.4: Basins: suspected source areas (possibly indicating local/regional workshops) and sites with typological parallels. Figure 7.5: High-necked jars with painted or incised decoration: suspected source areas (possibly indicating local/regional workshops) and sites with typological parallels. Figure 7.6: Leaf-pattern jars: suspected source areas (possibly indicating local/regional workshops) and sites with typological parallels. Chapter 2 Southern Transjordan and the Negev in the late Byzantineand early Islamic periods Rural and urban contexts in Byzantine Palaestina Tertia Changing socio-political reality of the 7th century Rural and urban economies in the early Islamic period Christian communities under Muslim rule Remarks on ceramic trade, exchange and transportation Chapter 3 Archaeological sites The monastery of Jabal Harûn (Mountain of Aaron) near Petra The village of Khirbet edh-Dharih in southern Jordan The city of Elusa in the Negev The farmhouse of Abu Matar in Beersheva The port city of ‘Aqaba/Aila/Ayla on the Red Sea coast Chapter 4 Ceramic technologies, provenance and exchange Ceramic traditions, styles and variation Chaîne opératoire and technological change Ceramic provenance and exchange Chapter 5 Catalogue of the analysed ceramic artefacts Cooking vessels Basins and bowls Food and liquid containers Elusa kiln wasters Other forms Jabal Harûn ceramic samples Khirbet edh-Dharih ceramic samples Abu Matar ceramic samples Elusa ceramic samples ‘Aqaba/Aila ceramic sample samples Chapter 6 Geochemical and microstructural ED-XRF and SEM-EDS data Selecting samples Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF) Precision and accuracy Sample preparation Statistical processing of data Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) Compositional groups Sample preparation Technological aspects and firing temperatures Concluding remarks Chapter 7 From production centres to regional and inter-regional ceramic transport Related ceramic economies of Khirbet edh-Dharih and Jabal Harûn (groups 1 and 3) Elusa and Abu Matar cooking pots (group 6) ‘Aqaba/Aila production (group 8) Elusa workshop production (group 10) Glazed vessels (groups 5, 12, 15) Shared ceramic traditions and socio-cultural implications Chapter 8 Ceramic data in context: analytical, archaeological and historical evidence Bibliography Appendices Appendix II Appendix III Appendix IV Appendix V Appendix VI Appendix VII Appendix VIII Back Cover