TITLE:
Testing Evidence for Local Metalworking at Tell es-Sa’idiyeh, Jordan
AUTHORS:
Maria Laura Mascelloni
KEYWORDS:
Jordan, Archaeology, Archaeometry, Archaeometallurgy, Metalworking, Metals, Slags, Faiance, Vitrified Material
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.9 No.4,
November
30,
2020
ABSTRACT: The study reports on the identification of chemical
composition of samples, of natural and artificial origin, in order to
investigate the technology involved and the contest of production of metals,
slag and vitrified materials from the Jordanian site of Tell es-Sa’idiyeh. The
site is situated in the east central Jordan Valley, 1.8 km east of the River Jordan, on the south side of the Wadi Kufrinjeh.
The settlement is placed on two mounds: the Upper Tell, to the middle east of
the site, lies 14 m above the plain level and covers an area of about 10,000 sq·m; and the Low Tell, approximately 90 by 40 m
to the west, is about 20 m lower than the upper mound. The surrounding land may
be considered some of the most fertile agricultural terrains in the country and
the site occupies a key strategic position, dominating the crossroads of two
major trade routes.