tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72782710315949183532024-03-19T23:18:35.740+00:00JORDAN 2008 GARP DIGDaily report from the Great Arab Revolt Project team dig in Jordan in November 2008.Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-86324399051487206672009-02-15T19:50:00.005+00:002009-02-16T09:25:08.834+00:00GARP in PublicationsJulian Evan-Hart has recently had an illustrated GARP related article published in the current issue of Treasure Hunting magazine.<br /><br />This is an enthralling account of some of the finds and other activities of the Great Arab Revolt Project 2008 Season, which took place in Jordan in November last year.<br /><br />In his usual entertaining and enthusiastic style Jules has managed to capture the excitement and variety of the trip, and he eloquently describes how it melds the technologies of metal detecting and internet research together with the academic aims of the project. It is a thoroughly good read and highly recommended. Also as can be seen below three rogues appear on the cover of the magazine, which is the March issue and is in the shops now. (Available in larger branches of W.H. Smiths)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlkN4-vYc2H6CHlRXcJxjQDXRN7z0uZx9euYFRR3E4MUrxUy1YFasZp0lMdc0rrPQnq0yB8brleuKMiFTICbMeWWmf8P1sTxdut_wADKG12aiDIIhuS5TvdhHBjC6qkBNEv92A74WEGgs/s1600-h/treasurehunting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlkN4-vYc2H6CHlRXcJxjQDXRN7z0uZx9euYFRR3E4MUrxUy1YFasZp0lMdc0rrPQnq0yB8brleuKMiFTICbMeWWmf8P1sTxdut_wADKG12aiDIIhuS5TvdhHBjC6qkBNEv92A74WEGgs/s320/treasurehunting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303109801502796690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Click picture for larger image</span><br /><br /></div>Also about to be published is the latest issue of Current World Archaeology which will include a GARP article and extracts from this years blog.<br /><div> </div> CWA - "the UK's no 1 world archaeology magazine" - (ok the UK's only world archaeology magazine) - is available in Foyles/Borders/by subscription - next issue is out late March.Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-41299673270264589612008-11-28T17:36:00.010+00:002008-12-12T10:40:54.647+00:00Home againAll now home or onward travelling, thinking about the sand and the desert experiences. Here's another selection of images from this year's season.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9S18p8jwSlQRhT0na-YECFLoilP13gNYNrbyPvj_E68BW70XrzdkNDfdXz707_0HmAAJFIKnYbvWDJir02zNdJVBp0-AFNwWxysIdjtlvSBTYFgjARApmAID3UVo7AGBjYNX8f084BY/s1600-h/15112008325.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9S18p8jwSlQRhT0na-YECFLoilP13gNYNrbyPvj_E68BW70XrzdkNDfdXz707_0HmAAJFIKnYbvWDJir02zNdJVBp0-AFNwWxysIdjtlvSBTYFgjARApmAID3UVo7AGBjYNX8f084BY/s320/15112008325.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273766275227674786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3l1bnFuvwzffESc9pSiDDV8Dh2001UCt23YQIThdPPEW1q9wGDzfo92KDQ0ixPIHj36Wv9ACiv5eCkVAmNyKszjl_GohyphenhyphenFVS0UDCxGCrLn6iHFkZAbGCtVsO7HOcgR0vB-hrp8hhVic/s1600-h/20112008395_800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMbvy_hhBQJCJ8Glf9uOkF6QA9v4CoF7Hi-IBoTFZAn05Ss0lau6JzppreDHWkB-3q7iUZXvCul_jo8ZMnO7ugeSDeV8venfmyosm6Xak_RMnPk_12rzPFugBLNUm20tGhblVTpoe_iU/s320/Zi6_0203_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273764420305628626" border="0" /></a>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-55416473037676113162008-11-25T18:16:00.012+00:002008-11-25T19:11:57.931+00:00Day 13 – All quiet on the Eastern Front<p class="MsoNormal">After two weeks in the desert, the team was withdrawn from the line for well deserved leave, taken in Aqaba and Wadi Rum.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Building on the great successes<span style=""> </span>of the two previous seasons, the 2008 fieldwork has confirmed the extraordinary extent and intensity of the Ottoman military response to the Arab insurgence. But, in addition, we are now seeing details and nuances which until now have escaped us. A mass of micro debris representing the Ottoman occupation – everything from grape-pips to shoulder pips, has been recovered this season, giving us unparalleled insight into everyday life the Ottoman army. In the landscape we have seen bread ovens, latrines and mule feeding troughs. All in all, a fantastic season.<br /></p><br />Some pictures of the work, (and play) of the GARP group this season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yxFCjjEYN-L-PXiH9fIIzN-nrTm2VhVjP-E8VieWWhZSloiZX9YHhAWc754yeAjyXrj90zAr-G_gFqAs5Y0I9wn-uAj4lAk9HuM6suml9Q17q5B_0UdC1nolnaPpLOZfs4orhX9Cm7E/s1600-h/wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yxFCjjEYN-L-PXiH9fIIzN-nrTm2VhVjP-E8VieWWhZSloiZX9YHhAWc754yeAjyXrj90zAr-G_gFqAs5Y0I9wn-uAj4lAk9HuM6suml9Q17q5B_0UdC1nolnaPpLOZfs4orhX9Cm7E/s320/wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272667899961040434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEF5o9ZgD-dJTjV0rZWbQ7nWg3865zb_xsmPQMKpYj1va90enHI5D-K0Y-OtoJJ1kmeMGMebVBPuMhfIHWzOqR-vJA7F7AQKli4ZTqDkATbeHNbLZLE8ZhL0NrrbMidvgu6BG0pmSxqo/s1600-h/catdavid.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEF5o9ZgD-dJTjV0rZWbQ7nWg3865zb_xsmPQMKpYj1va90enHI5D-K0Y-OtoJJ1kmeMGMebVBPuMhfIHWzOqR-vJA7F7AQKli4ZTqDkATbeHNbLZLE8ZhL0NrrbMidvgu6BG0pmSxqo/s320/catdavid.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272667222999908034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1alIDiELTadKBUaxMiET4OuKikPSy869QXEIPnf-ODTBEb_lxUrIZ12OIrBh9PpUB0naqhzUC6b1ovFVflJQH0kWuHjBQhTrEnFk37Sn5n5V3pJ2Zc4WcaG4URDOP__vV5gGZahoUEY/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1alIDiELTadKBUaxMiET4OuKikPSy869QXEIPnf-ODTBEb_lxUrIZ12OIrBh9PpUB0naqhzUC6b1ovFVflJQH0kWuHjBQhTrEnFk37Sn5n5V3pJ2Zc4WcaG4URDOP__vV5gGZahoUEY/s320/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272666769492263186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBf3WDVWYj3M6xMD4wJa1PLar2w1ByvhlThnwq23omDXLkWC-htsvrwEVrAk182UBEv9n0DVZGgrESi20d7LcI0ISJLG6q9O_NZO1h8jwUCKqMiyx0PLxI4GW9m3XpzAIFR-zyu5An4I/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBf3WDVWYj3M6xMD4wJa1PLar2w1ByvhlThnwq23omDXLkWC-htsvrwEVrAk182UBEv9n0DVZGgrESi20d7LcI0ISJLG6q9O_NZO1h8jwUCKqMiyx0PLxI4GW9m3XpzAIFR-zyu5An4I/s320/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272666105417373938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JfiJDNhRPCATnJImYvvKUV66vmvkmS2snd8IpWrwJPXKzdHOTNzqkGQ9osPukLr9HzyLvRcvwIAjI7NI7rXW_zkH7xwiygwp-2fudp9yW_5PJveIoeLuuauBysn4QSxmpn17rwr5i4w/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JfiJDNhRPCATnJImYvvKUV66vmvkmS2snd8IpWrwJPXKzdHOTNzqkGQ9osPukLr9HzyLvRcvwIAjI7NI7rXW_zkH7xwiygwp-2fudp9yW_5PJveIoeLuuauBysn4QSxmpn17rwr5i4w/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272665905497474962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd1DotVBO7LXR7Lc0Mvh_S7_U2o9VCqYPtFJyq3lnUmxCMWjTzdXYaUT_Idc0km-SNi5KViUpsCkV0_YxIbIeP34N77xLoucsly_d1yc59pU1IIhq7g1gq47w-EeEL7iLczBBkPEpito/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd1DotVBO7LXR7Lc0Mvh_S7_U2o9VCqYPtFJyq3lnUmxCMWjTzdXYaUT_Idc0km-SNi5KViUpsCkV0_YxIbIeP34N77xLoucsly_d1yc59pU1IIhq7g1gq47w-EeEL7iLczBBkPEpito/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272665406251751506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-ilfQJ110E0asLXLXfT40y5l5RY2eiXRUsLs2LUl5e1zSikSkQM1S-TQPRyDbOrHUnusz68MXaDOV92ur7xa-hictC_LyvmpzWcopAexI5cBtaBzBR2u6B5F85eaTep9gKAmuOnfozc/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-ilfQJ110E0asLXLXfT40y5l5RY2eiXRUsLs2LUl5e1zSikSkQM1S-TQPRyDbOrHUnusz68MXaDOV92ur7xa-hictC_LyvmpzWcopAexI5cBtaBzBR2u6B5F85eaTep9gKAmuOnfozc/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272664924102053810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWumVZkotp-t4qGdEZf8MqX5iMUpGetubvMIsIx5OdgoWvZfPro6X1jw5Czb8rkmdOHgMtnoPbXhXsSueusAk7WlnQvNSQRk-HfcsTZxH3WKBxuGpchtYHbnbPn4cmV0vyhcheUUiDumU/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWumVZkotp-t4qGdEZf8MqX5iMUpGetubvMIsIx5OdgoWvZfPro6X1jw5Czb8rkmdOHgMtnoPbXhXsSueusAk7WlnQvNSQRk-HfcsTZxH3WKBxuGpchtYHbnbPn4cmV0vyhcheUUiDumU/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272664544554347714" border="0" /></a><br />All is not over yet. We intend to flesh out some parts of this blog with further information and images over the coming weeks. And there is of course all of the vital follow-up work which begins in earnest once we get home. And then there is next year - already most of us are thinking about it and can't wait to return.Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-37406603315772775122008-11-24T20:33:00.009+00:002008-11-24T21:04:01.096+00:00Day 12 - Last days<p class="MsoNormal">It was appropriate that today was chosen by the BBC to film the dig for a new documentary on Lawrence of Arabia and his legacy – this being our last day on site and a time for summing up. The BBC were interested in how Lawrence is viewed in Jordan today and in the motivation of a team of British archaeologists investigating Lawrence’s war in the Middle East – not least in the context of contemporary conflict between Western powers and guerrilla resistance in Afghanistan and Iraq.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_xeM3WaniFM8m1DT2BUXElZDu65KRLmiLuSmP3wMBFynb4ypSUiGAwRgJjTtsC38JPJaJsuWNHYdkVZfnNmQXTHLv4i5MBJ1we-JM_mXvYYOv43WTunGRb_KcK_AEVCth_fJaLJQrDo/s1600-h/bbc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_xeM3WaniFM8m1DT2BUXElZDu65KRLmiLuSmP3wMBFynb4ypSUiGAwRgJjTtsC38JPJaJsuWNHYdkVZfnNmQXTHLv4i5MBJ1we-JM_mXvYYOv43WTunGRb_KcK_AEVCth_fJaLJQrDo/s320/bbc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272326125322401586" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What then have we learned about the Great Arab Revolt in the last two weeks? Our researchers have seen dozens of new Ottoman military sites and hundreds of new Ottoman army tent rings, making the scale of the militarisation of the landscape even more spectacular than that seen in previous years.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFh_O3aAhm6hf3-I5yaoNNKHXKo8O28Ff-TTIU2eFh90J_R6nTEp8UKuPAbrnJiZ-QNKYkKb1SgFGzIXE5rHq0LeRIW2z8kwVCSPU6ZoBfw00yAuqpx3OerPvZtd5wBeO8bZpahaqVaEU/s1600-h/catplan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFh_O3aAhm6hf3-I5yaoNNKHXKo8O28Ff-TTIU2eFh90J_R6nTEp8UKuPAbrnJiZ-QNKYkKb1SgFGzIXE5rHq0LeRIW2z8kwVCSPU6ZoBfw00yAuqpx3OerPvZtd5wBeO8bZpahaqVaEU/s320/catplan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272327454529079426" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Our estimate of the numbers of men tie down defending the Hijaz railway rises steadily. The military threat of the insurgency becomes ever more apparent.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W4sLoJqh5ISIjeASR_kgJFrsid0y1Py6tFEuAGCyOW_gZmM68_aTQHR7ILJJPBtyH6IRzGr_JPEXofZWw98BNFPHYuzjMptvA1EQiD98bDXb61KsJ724WR03rb2yxYgaKc_gi_cfH_E/s1600-h/metlled+road.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W4sLoJqh5ISIjeASR_kgJFrsid0y1Py6tFEuAGCyOW_gZmM68_aTQHR7ILJJPBtyH6IRzGr_JPEXofZWw98BNFPHYuzjMptvA1EQiD98bDXb61KsJ724WR03rb2yxYgaKc_gi_cfH_E/s320/metlled+road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272331485129101986" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Among those sites, it is now clear that the Batn Al Ghul escarpment was especially heavily garrisoned and defended, making it possibly the biggest military base for about one hundred kilometres. We suspect that a regiment (the Ottoman equivalent of a British brigade) or even a division may have had its headquarters at Fassu-ah ridge.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hV3ZuiOqmeRDFH0ZgChcuW1uDM_LK0aBig2gZkhjSowcbDrRfLM8sWfGlO26PF7jO-WFxRK0INbW8Lb4jJVEQKE6ZuQh9BeQcTGeJatKj-y8xeyecw21bImdYadCHWXfJEUE3WPcCQc/s1600-h/belly+of+the+beast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hV3ZuiOqmeRDFH0ZgChcuW1uDM_LK0aBig2gZkhjSowcbDrRfLM8sWfGlO26PF7jO-WFxRK0INbW8Lb4jJVEQKE6ZuQh9BeQcTGeJatKj-y8xeyecw21bImdYadCHWXfJEUE3WPcCQc/s320/belly+of+the+beast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272330439580602994" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>But the work isn’t over yet by any means. Serious analysis and interpretation of finds – buttons, munitions, fragments of uniform, bits of equipment, personal effects, and much else – is only just beginning. </p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-6366032680741711122008-11-23T19:42:00.011+00:002008-11-23T20:35:18.678+00:00Day 11 Crammed in the canvasHow many men slept in an Ottoman army tent during the first world war? To find out, we did some experimental archaeology. Six plucky members of the team lay down within a tent ring, arranging themselves radially, feet central, heads out, in an attempt to establish what might have been practical given the size and shape of the tent. Six men, together with their arms, equipment and clothes would have been tight packed: our guess is that this would have been the number actually housed within the tents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssVWjoHDOI4Cmt6o3kQTMW_Y_je565ZSSVQMtyHxQiB6KPlzBMzROOHi_7Ahst71mGDZF_mM1jy8Ll93Y23ebhJ3Fu5kBS-CfREcGOmIQEKdrdTQbcwHcbbdzrTG6e0dGNYC_QDOnzrQ/s1600-h/tent+ring+exp+arch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssVWjoHDOI4Cmt6o3kQTMW_Y_je565ZSSVQMtyHxQiB6KPlzBMzROOHi_7Ahst71mGDZF_mM1jy8Ll93Y23ebhJ3Fu5kBS-CfREcGOmIQEKdrdTQbcwHcbbdzrTG6e0dGNYC_QDOnzrQ/s320/tent+ring+exp+arch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271946164204518898" border="0" /></a><br />The detectorists went to examine the patch of land near what had been identified as an ancient well, eager with anticipation of finds dating back hundreds of years to support this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6n9_gNQU79qrVM-cr7K08pXHhwpHYu2a3xBVbyBe3hV__hOMmRVxqwKq0gQpvYKt99iKUr6uN9L_E1Bpq4eiiQ57-q1inenf4p5Jxe4b8EaQHidEVFSpKUeNrLvVEkCy8cXNrTlw5yvQ/s1600-h/well+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6n9_gNQU79qrVM-cr7K08pXHhwpHYu2a3xBVbyBe3hV__hOMmRVxqwKq0gQpvYKt99iKUr6uN9L_E1Bpq4eiiQ57-q1inenf4p5Jxe4b8EaQHidEVFSpKUeNrLvVEkCy8cXNrTlw5yvQ/s320/well+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271949375981277602" border="0" /></a><br />However almost no metal artefacts were found whatsoever, with the exception of two modern (1950's) coins and a very small amount of iron scrap, making it very unlikely that this did in fact represent an ancient watering hole. Bit of a mystery!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHHf5dXu_hE67qXIS6aLBBVeDtl9rlrZrcBcQtA3A2ztZXLkYiX5hNYtWrUjieyQCgvL0MSn-mS79CeJms4Y8A6UJ0RZj8UAHhFzR5qerVelfrU1QJnGYYnSbjfjiYxZNhiYSgmjHvoE/s1600-h/well+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHHf5dXu_hE67qXIS6aLBBVeDtl9rlrZrcBcQtA3A2ztZXLkYiX5hNYtWrUjieyQCgvL0MSn-mS79CeJms4Y8A6UJ0RZj8UAHhFzR5qerVelfrU1QJnGYYnSbjfjiYxZNhiYSgmjHvoE/s320/well+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271949693408623698" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another intrepid group began a reconnaissance of the Hizaz railway south from Ma’an to Batn Al Ghul. This was aimed at identifying Great Arab Revolt period structures and features, (redoubts, trenches, breastworks and similar). The only way to detect these sites is to drive in the desert adjacent to the railway and to observe the landscape first hand. By the end of today we had discovered 5 new sites, all of which featured tent rings, defensive trenches, possible machine gun posts, and other characteristics all of which were worthy of serious investigation. Included in these sites we found the location of Gadia Al Hajj station which we had previously not been unable to find.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidODX-J4p4xRnu618kzGuCGUWNo03xejLkPY30WJ3CjL4OvZtuariBxBRzf-0hfwCjtIA-o5SWIh1Hq-S10yXD3Hgm-ZDwrq4vbW9GpoaVHghDY4KlJG8VKqFoQH3aUQFwS1LergeT2E4/s1600-h/nick+on+mound.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidODX-J4p4xRnu618kzGuCGUWNo03xejLkPY30WJ3CjL4OvZtuariBxBRzf-0hfwCjtIA-o5SWIh1Hq-S10yXD3Hgm-ZDwrq4vbW9GpoaVHghDY4KlJG8VKqFoQH3aUQFwS1LergeT2E4/s320/nick+on+mound.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271945891377300450" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The intensity of this field work meant that after six hours we had only been able to cover 20km, leaving a further 40km on this stretch – who knows wonders what these may reveal! <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For those interested in the use of metal detectors on this expedition, here’s a couple of pictures hastily taken of some of the 600 metal artefacts found during the first 7 days of our searching. The range and age of these reflect the ancient location of the WW1 sites and the pathways along which they lie alongside.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNuNAj4Y6x177tfCMbEssNIgSAwivlMvGbZ9U9yP_wV_pLD_nKEw7y8SzqDJX79n_S6uUqZfNbiZUHgbAynvpxTNR9xJMRW7ZYWHSfIka1hyphenhyphen2bdpf9C4lgJJf-ltdx85zZxnXDT7aNp4/s1600-h/finds+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNuNAj4Y6x177tfCMbEssNIgSAwivlMvGbZ9U9yP_wV_pLD_nKEw7y8SzqDJX79n_S6uUqZfNbiZUHgbAynvpxTNR9xJMRW7ZYWHSfIka1hyphenhyphen2bdpf9C4lgJJf-ltdx85zZxnXDT7aNp4/s320/finds+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271942700611707474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLJ77uVDug0q9tEGiljMExKPzcn4j-xZt87i80j_LJJE1bhuc-rTcnOe2urPT5k2bAN2tq-VmFPFYHjbBi070IYaJePzKn2kPYqq9GLKvy_KQAg875T1kj3J7VG-11tkRuxaAbSKvcuw/s1600-h/finds+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLJ77uVDug0q9tEGiljMExKPzcn4j-xZt87i80j_LJJE1bhuc-rTcnOe2urPT5k2bAN2tq-VmFPFYHjbBi070IYaJePzKn2kPYqq9GLKvy_KQAg875T1kj3J7VG-11tkRuxaAbSKvcuw/s320/finds+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271945389777571650" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Finally we would like to express our sincere thanks to the Edom Hotel near to the astonishing new wonder of the world that is Petra for their kindness in allowing us to have internet access via the hotel in order to make and publish this blog. We are very grateful for their help.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-4408310803274089942008-11-22T19:07:00.005+00:002008-11-22T19:29:33.359+00:00Day 10 – Walking the lines<p class="MsoNormal">Today one team walked the Hijaz railway from Aqaba Hijaz to Batn AL Ghul to explore the flanking landscape. On hill to the east they found a small observation/machine gun point with a small trench alongside. Several hundred metres further south along the same ridge were the remains of an Ottoman encampment composed of between 4 to 6 tent rings, and two U-shaped animal tethering structures, one of which produced 2 small donkey or mule shoes. Returning to the railway embankment and continuing south they spotted the remains of an intriguing structure at the base of the eastern wadi wall. Upon examination it transpired with the expert insight of one of our Jordanian colleagues that this was the partially collapsed remains of an Islamic domed building covering a well-head, which itself was probably originally Nabatean.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIoge3AMf4JFlJec7cEWZ8o90wGEwYhMnLO5LWPHO-Iy0jM_j3OUCq-wbjufw7Oj1gJKVeiFmUJzuPx1v3Xf9xqCHWowJM34Bqr68uAnAChp0ey_9Tct8fHFif1dUyiYEH4M0edm-Ppk/s1600-h/view+down+escarpment.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIoge3AMf4JFlJec7cEWZ8o90wGEwYhMnLO5LWPHO-Iy0jM_j3OUCq-wbjufw7Oj1gJKVeiFmUJzuPx1v3Xf9xqCHWowJM34Bqr68uAnAChp0ey_9Tct8fHFif1dUyiYEH4M0edm-Ppk/s320/view+down+escarpment.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271566148492690962" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of the team were hard at work on the plateau on the top of the Batn AL Ghul escarpment. Half the excavators continued to work at Fassu-ah ridge fort, revealing two possible latrines outside the perimeter wall, while others worked on the nearby bread oven, others again excavated inside the central building. Here exciting finds included Ottoman smoking paraphernalia and uniform fragments.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzPCcO8Rvx6RUZT5KvczNjj5ZBT6GVkm15Xai5BjLpBc-qw8BmOzfOv3KBdEzwawHWUwMk5MJ55HH9VmHJ4jj1YI-Ub6RWPoljwizcPf_9N2CwaMMPX-D6bb3lvfg-qiy_dInO1aY_RU/s1600-h/three+in+the+plain+west+of+the+ridge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzPCcO8Rvx6RUZT5KvczNjj5ZBT6GVkm15Xai5BjLpBc-qw8BmOzfOv3KBdEzwawHWUwMk5MJ55HH9VmHJ4jj1YI-Ub6RWPoljwizcPf_9N2CwaMMPX-D6bb3lvfg-qiy_dInO1aY_RU/s320/three+in+the+plain+west+of+the+ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271565753126140530" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another group of excavators further along the ridge worked on the site of the Ottoman mule and donkey tethering place. The evidence revealed includes a rectangular area of clearance where animals were probably tied up, a feeding trough with possible remains of cereals fed to the animals, and a surface scatter of mule and or donkey shoes. A<span style=""> </span>new dimension of the project is developing in which the logistical tale of the Ottoman army on the Arab front becomes visible to archaeological research.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoau4-iXCuJAX4kPyz5mbn5N3xoEaKyXdGd1M1bKXdUoxb_5MwsRPmwWgy7c8fDR1l_ZlAciqg8r27g109t3MhiwBesxlXoo-VB5zt4w7rVxjxq0W8bqI_fothsE4Eat0dcWzDPcwj2M/s1600-h/working+in+mule+trough+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoau4-iXCuJAX4kPyz5mbn5N3xoEaKyXdGd1M1bKXdUoxb_5MwsRPmwWgy7c8fDR1l_ZlAciqg8r27g109t3MhiwBesxlXoo-VB5zt4w7rVxjxq0W8bqI_fothsE4Eat0dcWzDPcwj2M/s320/working+in+mule+trough+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271565035266939106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TGaqLKRMcJuKaVGhVJhm4_kro0OKjtHxmb_ac_DEw6Jme2wx-nti4-Pbn24zVTyeIfRoFqqEzLbBgMK00y5-e1ZWr37K6N8WIj2uaEC8_ZZLmXCbNYhoaO4QubuA17d0vdBA-XGiBXo/s1600-h/working+in+the+mule+trough1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TGaqLKRMcJuKaVGhVJhm4_kro0OKjtHxmb_ac_DEw6Jme2wx-nti4-Pbn24zVTyeIfRoFqqEzLbBgMK00y5-e1ZWr37K6N8WIj2uaEC8_ZZLmXCbNYhoaO4QubuA17d0vdBA-XGiBXo/s320/working+in+the+mule+trough1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271564769584650674" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the afternoon another team made a brief exploration of the section of Hijaz railway to discover a very well preserved trench with rounded ends and side trench representing the western most defences found in Wadi Batn Al Ghul.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile the detectorists surveyed the wide ancient path to the east of the modern railway line for evidence of metal items which would confirm the nature and scope of it's use. This flat long path represents the lead in to the traditional pilgrimage and trade route which drops down the escarment before continuing it's journey south. In a mile and a half of this ancient route many items including coins and other artifacts ranging from ancient times to the middle of the last century were discovered, thus indeed <span style="">corroborating the location as</span><span style=""> being part of this ancient established route.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3aSMHNknkWogtlAbYM-fivuYCtObfTrjq5Pbi23FhuJ2b1P96CJTJs2OBjbyaXn11kO_-WB0NaPUv_HakbJP6yPMfNwC49wYJ68S-RwtmgB4Yb357rWUkm-AyipGNOADsbNNfXgAF-A/s1600-h/martin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3aSMHNknkWogtlAbYM-fivuYCtObfTrjq5Pbi23FhuJ2b1P96CJTJs2OBjbyaXn11kO_-WB0NaPUv_HakbJP6yPMfNwC49wYJ68S-RwtmgB4Yb357rWUkm-AyipGNOADsbNNfXgAF-A/s320/martin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271563918001136418" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-6474202671773931092008-11-21T19:01:00.008+00:002008-11-22T19:18:53.246+00:00Day 9 – Archaeologists R&R and new horizonsAfter seven straight days digging and searching in the desert today was our first rest day. Our hotel is a matter of a few hundred metres from the entrance to the World Heritage and more recently New Wonder of the World site at <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>. Unfortunately all these metres, together with the 2 kilometres which eventually leads to the colonaded street at the heart of the site, are downhill all the way there and therefore uphill on the way back. The journey however is so very well worth the gradient.<p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g-hYJRnYOPQxZE_FWhD-gJX7U3yA_EMBrDAEKKvSHmrlDXFxP9m6faUnaqpLX4NEfQCoPNdVV1CLfn8Ah6edSl94kCfuIlO_dugCG1XG9xk7FapMQtezdGVJpaHvpk50TYs8hCZ_274/s1600-h/siq+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g-hYJRnYOPQxZE_FWhD-gJX7U3yA_EMBrDAEKKvSHmrlDXFxP9m6faUnaqpLX4NEfQCoPNdVV1CLfn8Ah6edSl94kCfuIlO_dugCG1XG9xk7FapMQtezdGVJpaHvpk50TYs8hCZ_274/s320/siq+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271193705257625106" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city> is an ancient city literally carved out of the Jordanian sandstone containing a myriad of historical and archaeological structures in various states of decay and completeness. It is approached via a stony pathway that leads ever downward into the stunning sandstone fissure known as the Siq, a breathtaking colourful flaw in the rock which protects and hides the city from the outside world.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK2iz38r00KRS6p6Eb7NTkGl6lpLHJcoHPeCALl6NueL58DW0J2hyphenhyphenOE1n-3le1sbuGcvYpWITJMZfRdtXt4kyJI1bH8hkz5nDhJZXTN6fc51q6GGYvPWDVErTtVzLXesGIODXbcxYGqM/s1600-h/petra1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK2iz38r00KRS6p6Eb7NTkGl6lpLHJcoHPeCALl6NueL58DW0J2hyphenhyphenOE1n-3le1sbuGcvYpWITJMZfRdtXt4kyJI1bH8hkz5nDhJZXTN6fc51q6GGYvPWDVErTtVzLXesGIODXbcxYGqM/s320/petra1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271193081287077250" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Worming its way through the 75 metre high rock the Siq eventually reveals what must be the ultimate light at the end of the tunnel, the huge impressive hand-carved face of the Petra Treasury. Many of this season’s team ventured down this path for the first time today to experience for themselves the wonders of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXirryd3O6wcxXjTuLRdFCQZmfHcgz7GcS3OCJs4_l5Rye8-NHv4PSWu5Kl596uT3K5AInEZNSWRPKLAJ8VZyIQzr3KBuf1QLb0-5n5lxXs6TVzzpc3muk1n_c1ekJnTWl48KoJukuAaI/s1600-h/treasury.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXirryd3O6wcxXjTuLRdFCQZmfHcgz7GcS3OCJs4_l5Rye8-NHv4PSWu5Kl596uT3K5AInEZNSWRPKLAJ8VZyIQzr3KBuf1QLb0-5n5lxXs6TVzzpc3muk1n_c1ekJnTWl48KoJukuAaI/s320/treasury.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271194347770267794" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Time and space preclude further detailed description, so let the images speak for themselves.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgud76wl4Oh4hCJi6nXuyKQ9KS7oTjFuzH7prOdtfAicnb3clZsBlLBa5FgSeDR4uoXyc5vgm8OaKyVT2o25LJu8Izq3wC0BY4mRBvwN-mKcBxh4IBkxqBT41lWm-HP7x_08ijr9tWEx5I/s1600-h/petra+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgud76wl4Oh4hCJi6nXuyKQ9KS7oTjFuzH7prOdtfAicnb3clZsBlLBa5FgSeDR4uoXyc5vgm8OaKyVT2o25LJu8Izq3wC0BY4mRBvwN-mKcBxh4IBkxqBT41lWm-HP7x_08ijr9tWEx5I/s320/petra+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271195113337591426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4S3aylkf0ulfPXNlz8__M1VhxU4cWrC6v-bpJsmFUbBKd9dvE3B77A0crXIS_yXYfAAzlRrti9XKpSxZTXOqa1ZFIKBimM6irzNx6b4pkhlfUgpOjen0P_HbByxITH0Fk9A5-kzYYm8/s1600-h/petra+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4S3aylkf0ulfPXNlz8__M1VhxU4cWrC6v-bpJsmFUbBKd9dvE3B77A0crXIS_yXYfAAzlRrti9XKpSxZTXOqa1ZFIKBimM6irzNx6b4pkhlfUgpOjen0P_HbByxITH0Fk9A5-kzYYm8/s320/petra+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271197605054304898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GHC1KSURrkkkFba-m-YXt2vv9FdZsEa6WtZ4ZpOOwyaRS7XGej9MX8pPv1ODF-cHMx_pFqUWa8lOL0Ne_pIgY54rxeh7byDiQCJbuI8BidImmc8dyH9V-Z3fDu_4_EjWzfI3qJGEBV8/s1600-h/petra+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GHC1KSURrkkkFba-m-YXt2vv9FdZsEa6WtZ4ZpOOwyaRS7XGej9MX8pPv1ODF-cHMx_pFqUWa8lOL0Ne_pIgY54rxeh7byDiQCJbuI8BidImmc8dyH9V-Z3fDu_4_EjWzfI3qJGEBV8/s320/petra+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271195655529591282" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meantime, three project veterans set off on field reconnaissance in a 4x4 at Shobek. There they discovered a defended halt on the branch railway line between Shobek and Unayza – the branch line that carried wood for fuel to the Hijaz railway. Further north, at Menzil, a site identified from Google Earth, the group confirmed the presence of two original Hijaz railway station buildings, beautiful preserved and <span style=""> </span>alongside which were what appeared to be original rail lines, now unused. The station was defended by ring trenches on three nearby hilltops, one of which also had several fairly recent Bedouin burials on its summit. From these three redouts it would have been possible to observe the surrounding landscape for miles and to deliver devastating converging fire on any insurgence from the desert.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAGeKFM_I8iacW6F-_k0dO30fvZcs-JyU-a0f4RZydlNKrEzr4SfLP9MzL-z641RBBfLodEuqeUJhITg5p2c_41HyIZnMuJVUVrw-1AJd-Zwj8YtaY5TJdyG0qr56UB-pHx90rKcxXbE/s1600-h/station.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAGeKFM_I8iacW6F-_k0dO30fvZcs-JyU-a0f4RZydlNKrEzr4SfLP9MzL-z641RBBfLodEuqeUJhITg5p2c_41HyIZnMuJVUVrw-1AJd-Zwj8YtaY5TJdyG0qr56UB-pHx90rKcxXbE/s320/station.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271201030441323602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1Q558QM7hAVnas4iVe9TharNsRwPaYIyXmMxHS-2dwpZXkjdHafKWGdzhBXDePnmKPrRRiySWyUe7_iFlUzIHGKEoDILSqHh4lDUoic2NSSAQRN3gZoY66W2usUgkqy2frNDgNg63CM/s1600-h/station3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1Q558QM7hAVnas4iVe9TharNsRwPaYIyXmMxHS-2dwpZXkjdHafKWGdzhBXDePnmKPrRRiySWyUe7_iFlUzIHGKEoDILSqHh4lDUoic2NSSAQRN3gZoY66W2usUgkqy2frNDgNg63CM/s320/station3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271201573615486802" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally at Unayza the team identified on the ground the two trenches which covered the approaches to the station, and also explored the Hajj route medieval and early Ottoman fort which preceded the construction of the railway.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are discovering new sites faster than we can excavate them. The project has work for years and years to come. Exciting times ahead. </p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-65005400511590392492008-11-20T19:19:00.009+00:002008-11-20T20:02:03.095+00:00Day 8 – Mules and Seals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCI_fjHpCkx-T-RA9l-Ow9Sp7ebSo8SJ8dYdslrb0akO4E1-vAMgbt-2e15aBezdjt50UZ3kMJU6XDl5ZRQpdBS0tzS9o38JgoL6Qvvcpt9wch7pqto6TryDHDu2hIbSjnwPhX7iZzQw/s1600-h/desert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCI_fjHpCkx-T-RA9l-Ow9Sp7ebSo8SJ8dYdslrb0akO4E1-vAMgbt-2e15aBezdjt50UZ3kMJU6XDl5ZRQpdBS0tzS9o38JgoL6Qvvcpt9wch7pqto6TryDHDu2hIbSjnwPhX7iZzQw/s320/desert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270825419688688546" border="0" /></a><br />How did the Ottomans move supplies around the desert landscape? We think we may have an archaeological answer. Yesterday one of our detectorists spotted an unusual line of stones on the plateau to the west of the fort at Fassu-ah. <span style=""> </span>Returning today, GARP archaeologists identified a large rectangular area of stone clearance, a long curving trough, and metal finds of both military buttons mule shoes and nails.<p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There can be no reasonable doubt that this area represents mule lines of the Ottoman army supply system on Fassu-ah ridge. Suddenly a whole new dimension of the desert war is revealed. The railway moves bulk supplies but pack animals are then used to transport goods from the rail line to the scattered forces along the ridge, or possibly to carry the vital water resource from Fassu-ah fort at Akabat Hijaz to remote outposts. <span style="font-style: italic;">(Pictures to follow.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy86QB0LqbhNomKZRyUKstrMKxrmvony-DgiWDSclM4eolnCwvH70icioG6aRBs3y8rOEGY4nRX50C1Yccg5POMMj02vQ-ji48_AXYY8jGA7qlhCoBPlNGsxa7xCXb9Kxlbw5fEM9S7k/s1600-h/Zi6_0144.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy86QB0LqbhNomKZRyUKstrMKxrmvony-DgiWDSclM4eolnCwvH70icioG6aRBs3y8rOEGY4nRX50C1Yccg5POMMj02vQ-ji48_AXYY8jGA7qlhCoBPlNGsxa7xCXb9Kxlbw5fEM9S7k/s320/Zi6_0144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270822603929219458" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nearby in the extensive patches of tent rings and other Ottoman workings the detectorists continued to search within the stone patterns scattered across the desert. Although some of these are sketchy with many of the surface ring shaped rocks having been removed by later activity the ghosts of the tents locations can be seen. Under a rock at the edge of one of these an intact Ottoman personal seal was found.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1nJ2OWLA58l5eybTdcHUa1XgHsipzoKEFWvlqAhwhguGW5pQH5WHo9yrzhuLkBlQyMzDZDDtKWqlHCaKEtIyDwHow7eR4v8blgPD7Qdc_TP_cg2-lPzQ8j_49Sy-vCl6bdptIMGVzYY/s1600-h/seal+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1nJ2OWLA58l5eybTdcHUa1XgHsipzoKEFWvlqAhwhguGW5pQH5WHo9yrzhuLkBlQyMzDZDDtKWqlHCaKEtIyDwHow7eR4v8blgPD7Qdc_TP_cg2-lPzQ8j_49Sy-vCl6bdptIMGVzYY/s320/seal+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270823524028944498" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The inscription having been ranslated by one of our party and confirmed in detail by later this turns out to have belonged to one Khalil Hasan Jhon and has been dated by our local historian to around 1907. Further investigations are ongoing to see if we can discover who exactly this person was, and why he might have been part of the forces camped on the ridge.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafi3MA57EyHNRB1Da87fRuUMKrWl1wuPChMg8X5lUoQt_Z8Y53XynwdsQpCL_xF6wfMp0-wtE0qcyIwZ4QvZOCF4m3Wq-3F30g5UPs6cNRzIrZbdLXBUqiLSJzMR-S6qL5vPobk3N_ic/s1600-h/seal3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafi3MA57EyHNRB1Da87fRuUMKrWl1wuPChMg8X5lUoQt_Z8Y53XynwdsQpCL_xF6wfMp0-wtE0qcyIwZ4QvZOCF4m3Wq-3F30g5UPs6cNRzIrZbdLXBUqiLSJzMR-S6qL5vPobk3N_ic/s320/seal3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270823789475458434" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Below the edge of the ridge itself, and crafted into the hillside to enable control of the wind rushing over the surface, a large brick breaad oven structure can be seen. This is a remarkably well built example with the overhanging canopy expertly assembled to withstand both the heat of cooking and the ravages of the climate.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vNiiHphyphenhyphenzTDSx3DAlleMANNN3GeqrOURPI3Q-ZnBrIb5PEez_0qQlazkBdY2VvR40isESudNNSJrO32M9TG2d0q-CuiW7c9_FrBbZYnxvJLgpednueLHNklkvabbawFdni6cqlnlkrc/s1600-h/oven+in+hillside+small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vNiiHphyphenhyphenzTDSx3DAlleMANNN3GeqrOURPI3Q-ZnBrIb5PEez_0qQlazkBdY2VvR40isESudNNSJrO32M9TG2d0q-CuiW7c9_FrBbZYnxvJLgpednueLHNklkvabbawFdni6cqlnlkrc/s320/oven+in+hillside+small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270828777554865906" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Amid all this excitement we were delighted to receive a visit from Trevor Peacock, the Australian ambassador to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> together with his Protocol Officer Rana Naber. The ambassador was particularly enthusiastic about the work and displayed a strong personal interest in the archaeology of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and showed particular interest in what we are doing. His visit lasted two hours during which time he was given a tour of the highlights of the excavation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsj4o-DCU5Gq-KhkrYId3o90EboIxPa7zG32xPqNiE65GjNSf2_koz8bS1jADmZ9hHVMe5BJRIP3kBEwipvq8Xz2cT4SVPardi4tvzKeyFgzZvagXqcuBT7ZqSPIe4w6ikXlgKvhupbs/s1600-h/amabassador.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsj4o-DCU5Gq-KhkrYId3o90EboIxPa7zG32xPqNiE65GjNSf2_koz8bS1jADmZ9hHVMe5BJRIP3kBEwipvq8Xz2cT4SVPardi4tvzKeyFgzZvagXqcuBT7ZqSPIe4w6ikXlgKvhupbs/s320/amabassador.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270824988955328850" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-90498603437257895192008-11-19T18:47:00.014+00:002008-11-19T19:23:37.278+00:00Day 7 Spilt perfume in the dustWe suspect that an Ottoman officer stationed at Fassu-ah ridge during the first world war had a penchant for German perfume – judging by our discovery of the metal lid and spray mechanism of an expensive perfume bottle dating to between 1906 and 1913.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9rP0qpw_nP7JMPOP6qgBJTltqf0CQQGr-TOq_nkqRRzcYctPDYHMciqxlKro6PeT8wLEimJm7N9Tq98hVZEZDx6PbWovfcF4Dbt1Xci1Y1dexauQo25u-d0UWZLD3MBKqXp50kw-Nrw/s1600-h/thing+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9rP0qpw_nP7JMPOP6qgBJTltqf0CQQGr-TOq_nkqRRzcYctPDYHMciqxlKro6PeT8wLEimJm7N9Tq98hVZEZDx6PbWovfcF4Dbt1Xci1Y1dexauQo25u-d0UWZLD3MBKqXp50kw-Nrw/s320/thing+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270447161160263810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTnNIVmoBPGlwvRKGb2hTLMlFEJJgum4YfFoBtc4-HVHk1WxLt68aQyldTr0kTG2j4LGaVKJSAQ4sqxhj7oBsfhRenRBKk4QuSuwwbi0wCANEQ3YprEfcp13_lYkxKQMqBVdbiu4Zuds/s1600-h/Zi6_0141.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTnNIVmoBPGlwvRKGb2hTLMlFEJJgum4YfFoBtc4-HVHk1WxLt68aQyldTr0kTG2j4LGaVKJSAQ4sqxhj7oBsfhRenRBKk4QuSuwwbi0wCANEQ3YprEfcp13_lYkxKQMqBVdbiu4Zuds/s320/Zi6_0141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270446860236211154" border="0" /></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lawrence</st1:place></st1:city> reports trainloads of luxury goods coming down the Hijaz railway heading for the Ottoman forces and being eagerly looted by his Bedouin irregulars. In these remote desert garrison posts there was it seems at least a whiff of the decadent <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Istanbul</st1:place></st1:city> high life.<p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV5DFbIgFGrkHi3fzDi9AtfkwqB_80nGbKMKSfkBS52M02wc5dTtAcy4jwueC6C13jdM3ITH_xw9G2yO81jXOtKkkFLb2cxywaa0zcn7IF95oVvRDMLd_zdvfUOtYRlAub0rtICjyLv4/s1600-h/thing+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV5DFbIgFGrkHi3fzDi9AtfkwqB_80nGbKMKSfkBS52M02wc5dTtAcy4jwueC6C13jdM3ITH_xw9G2yO81jXOtKkkFLb2cxywaa0zcn7IF95oVvRDMLd_zdvfUOtYRlAub0rtICjyLv4/s320/thing+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270446102166710402" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>In other respects Fassu-ah ridge was bleak outpost, though one located with stunning views which reflected its commanding position overlooking the Wadi Batn Al Ghul and the Hijaz railway. Several teams have been busy excavating trenches and surveying the fort, and a picture is building is emerging of a multi-phase complex probably with a medieval core and later substantial late Ottoman re-modelling.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHko8g-hjY1ksU6YHT7Xvw6ByrtiYgyGGCA1EzOA9TwBkuumA5JNb6PGAqx4HPztq4Dv9EjoHPHP8njjmVSueZkwhI1a6Al1osOLlHj6LfGpSINpGomGZr7giwTgdBydPqszP735xn0c/s1600-h/Ridge+view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHko8g-hjY1ksU6YHT7Xvw6ByrtiYgyGGCA1EzOA9TwBkuumA5JNb6PGAqx4HPztq4Dv9EjoHPHP8njjmVSueZkwhI1a6Al1osOLlHj6LfGpSINpGomGZr7giwTgdBydPqszP735xn0c/s320/Ridge+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270447478453916034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZR8Q5AJ7_lwI1OqvWEoMrIFvCmkg8mtvMET7O74-53NoffInyAmW5O1Q_ACiC8-po_C9lGpWYoL4KDz1Xuu7eXjrqElItisOsd-X2SUG7ntbDe-1th3-nzRLH1c2_E93q6ckMhOLan8/s1600-h/susannah.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZR8Q5AJ7_lwI1OqvWEoMrIFvCmkg8mtvMET7O74-53NoffInyAmW5O1Q_ACiC8-po_C9lGpWYoL4KDz1Xuu7eXjrqElItisOsd-X2SUG7ntbDe-1th3-nzRLH1c2_E93q6ckMhOLan8/s320/susannah.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270449085178564946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfcf_AErHiJs0cOnud3yW5rI5QvdOneHxx1NK3DfPjvS74pxKuGH-EHG1v3Xk8yBg8W3gEwrWv_Z9fxoeAyxn4dJglqkvzjRkrjtApLUwFg469Rnbelcv5jl_iQvUbwdZoWrZr4MpJSM/s1600-h/steve.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfcf_AErHiJs0cOnud3yW5rI5QvdOneHxx1NK3DfPjvS74pxKuGH-EHG1v3Xk8yBg8W3gEwrWv_Z9fxoeAyxn4dJglqkvzjRkrjtApLUwFg469Rnbelcv5jl_iQvUbwdZoWrZr4MpJSM/s320/steve.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270447885039332770" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><br />A metal detecting team moved west along Fassu-ah ridge to explore several more suspected Ottoman camps and associated ruined structures both on the scarp face and on the plateau. One of these sites, located 1.5 km away from the fort, is an avenue of parallel 22 tent rings of similar form to ones we’ve encountered at previous locations. Detecting these revealed a typical array of Ottoman uniform buttons and the associated paraphernalia typical of such a camp.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokzAAHq6uTOtRkK0OGuBXGY_GVyoBmb4Sw5v7P1WYDGojSzRkbAVq59KXkXRgEpNpR2h2tW6-TYHAsejSQjYsAsPhQqi0M-R2Bs2Hxm72-v5yZvT0kB_5sTvGnoniRrGpqjCjKcMpWXM/s1600-h/detectorists.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokzAAHq6uTOtRkK0OGuBXGY_GVyoBmb4Sw5v7P1WYDGojSzRkbAVq59KXkXRgEpNpR2h2tW6-TYHAsejSQjYsAsPhQqi0M-R2Bs2Hxm72-v5yZvT0kB_5sTvGnoniRrGpqjCjKcMpWXM/s320/detectorists.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270449813022491282" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At other locations it appears that large stones from Ottoman tent rings have been removed and replaced in new positions at a much later date, as these revealed little or no metal activity. However the shadowy remains of these original rings revealed yet more convincing evidence of the scattering of the Ottoman forces along this terrain. <o:p></o:p>This included a hitherto unseen variant of the common Crescent and Star Ottoman uniform button, with a brass back and for the first time a manufacturer name in Arabic.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjef5IguRv0-LcQECIZ02EKk99YoAkF-mEpq7e85cX0m02a_ohsEqWTgpuu2dsGM2AKmdLKSiEu6DabE6ViVLCZYgdClWRpq2K2plWamlE9D5GnxFLEohC0UEK8Y0Vyj0E1IQ1BUavU9g/s1600-h/nick+on+mound.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjef5IguRv0-LcQECIZ02EKk99YoAkF-mEpq7e85cX0m02a_ohsEqWTgpuu2dsGM2AKmdLKSiEu6DabE6ViVLCZYgdClWRpq2K2plWamlE9D5GnxFLEohC0UEK8Y0Vyj0E1IQ1BUavU9g/s320/nick+on+mound.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270450608254081602" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Towards the end of the day back at the fort there was much discussion concerning the architectural development of what we are referring to as the Officers Mess area. It may prove to be that the arrangement of several apparently ceremonial paths leading from a putative flagpole (since disappeared) might clarify the relative sequence of construction of these buildings.</p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-82200462255495355032008-11-18T19:05:00.005+00:002008-11-18T19:36:34.162+00:00Day 6 – A Ridge Too FarWork shifted today to Fassu-ah ridge, the hilltop enclosure which overlooks Batn Al Ghul camp and offers commanding views down the Wadi Batn Al Ghul and the Wadi Rutm beyond.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmO6Sezs5IRzto4NhJ9E1iJJ186FRcwsXrMdcYK4ZJkFpkeoa_tC9VkTF5lUu__pTZCeTNnNhTm78_xwnMlJ_ZkmlmSGUZcNOCddv3sjB8Xv339P1WjEug_BrORVuQ4i-uP5X_v-3PXA/s1600-h/view+from+F+ridge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmO6Sezs5IRzto4NhJ9E1iJJ186FRcwsXrMdcYK4ZJkFpkeoa_tC9VkTF5lUu__pTZCeTNnNhTm78_xwnMlJ_ZkmlmSGUZcNOCddv3sjB8Xv339P1WjEug_BrORVuQ4i-uP5X_v-3PXA/s320/view+from+F+ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270077788335864162" border="0" /></a>Though ruinous and much damaged by gold digging holes, the site is an impressive combination of central strongpoint and large walled enclosure. Early Islamic pottery has been found nearby and the fortification itself almost certainly has a medieval origin. We suspect it served and protected the traditional routeway of trade and pilgrimage dating back thousands of years, and that camel caravans may have overnighted inside the enclosure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvurg5J_1RQ3l2OYE6e2QPVwd6mZlBFozRECjXeWS6PUo-M_yAN8VfyjRkJB5VcVzc0A-qukGqWPx3kleSUn6S2CmDArYT5o4RK7d4YV8NWv1g8bWyOjZ2Jm5RyChn8oiWoW2LYRlg3o/s1600-h/Cat+and+a+team.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvurg5J_1RQ3l2OYE6e2QPVwd6mZlBFozRECjXeWS6PUo-M_yAN8VfyjRkJB5VcVzc0A-qukGqWPx3kleSUn6S2CmDArYT5o4RK7d4YV8NWv1g8bWyOjZ2Jm5RyChn8oiWoW2LYRlg3o/s320/Cat+and+a+team.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270082711939677474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Finds from the site confirm Ottoman re-use during the Arab revolt. These include Ottoman military buttons and<span style=""> </span>fired Mauser rounds. In addition our metal detectorists recovered a British Army button and there was speculation as to which British Liason officer serving with the Arab forces Officer on site might have lost his button!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuC36GFKCECtSxCR6SO2ZWF0BiQLtAwhsSfNdPMKed0t6X-hRj8KQJ7pJZYSGHOeeid7ILRJFw8gh2JJDLlVLeWQ94LOSyPjufhyRfLpt6Jz4YF5dlyEMKe7q8mRH_YRrvm0lhI1-ktw/s1600-h/british+army+button.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuC36GFKCECtSxCR6SO2ZWF0BiQLtAwhsSfNdPMKed0t6X-hRj8KQJ7pJZYSGHOeeid7ILRJFw8gh2JJDLlVLeWQ94LOSyPjufhyRfLpt6Jz4YF5dlyEMKe7q8mRH_YRrvm0lhI1-ktw/s320/british+army+button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270080909024965058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XhtL6UC9H4489fcfzE2YXZyUpZw0DyjCToqX8Yr7LTn_bSSZ9I2ZAAmkgisTBlWrCF-RGrPgZx0GOyEJf-igogJgkLaZeYnbA4eCgpv__-dJ8Glho7z0f8h9eKz-lqIuf_IYdIkR3ug/s1600-h/archaeologists+a+Fassu-ah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XhtL6UC9H4489fcfzE2YXZyUpZw0DyjCToqX8Yr7LTn_bSSZ9I2ZAAmkgisTBlWrCF-RGrPgZx0GOyEJf-igogJgkLaZeYnbA4eCgpv__-dJ8Glho7z0f8h9eKz-lqIuf_IYdIkR3ug/s320/archaeologists+a+Fassu-ah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270078324460054946" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></div> <p class="MsoNormal">While our landscape archaeologist and two assistants produced a ground plan of the site, the rest of the team excavated a number of carefully targeted trenches designed to answer questions about the date and purpose of different parts of the complex. In one room of the central strongpoint we may have found the remains of the Ottoman cookhouse.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjillItntXQAFWbiqBBjVfArCDs1hElNXD1ik3QHzv7tW5mWazv3RRFqcMbI9g33PzqmbhefHdv5ncbZhtZF0wRQ2nzF7i_CzrOW-d5OezUr5W5tRHyxE9g26um8LjSLi3TUmN3yXUuQ88/s1600-h/group+on+hillsde.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjillItntXQAFWbiqBBjVfArCDs1hElNXD1ik3QHzv7tW5mWazv3RRFqcMbI9g33PzqmbhefHdv5ncbZhtZF0wRQ2nzF7i_CzrOW-d5OezUr5W5tRHyxE9g26um8LjSLi3TUmN3yXUuQ88/s320/group+on+hillsde.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270080524081416130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPubA-WOyrfLJyUNMib__3-XDTTyICP1laymdPZMh59KPvfwDkKxmMF6XPdZAHU-P8GGygvqDpFa17Zu8Xll-ytI0tPxtVZ6loEKGz3FFZZ9D4TDY9Cj2wFMl3LqXo21FTMKz16dYAUV8/s1600-h/Aussie+Neil+and+American+John+in+trench.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPubA-WOyrfLJyUNMib__3-XDTTyICP1laymdPZMh59KPvfwDkKxmMF6XPdZAHU-P8GGygvqDpFa17Zu8Xll-ytI0tPxtVZ6loEKGz3FFZZ9D4TDY9Cj2wFMl3LqXo21FTMKz16dYAUV8/s320/Aussie+Neil+and+American+John+in+trench.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270078108835788946" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While all that was going on another team investigated two sites containing potential Ottoman soldier burials. After several hours excavation it became clear that while superficially interesting in the event no evidence supported the prior theory. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Subsequently the same team trekked up a previously unexplored ridge to the north north east of Batn Al Ghul station. This geographical feature would have been strategically important for observing any enemy approaching the station from this direction.<span style=""> </span>No obvious military structures were found but it is likely that the fractured geology would have been used by a number of Ottoman observers to give advance warning of any oncoming enemy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-64454649494921966532008-11-17T18:54:00.001+00:002008-11-17T19:05:44.176+00:00Day 5 – Station debris, burials and another camp<p class="MsoNormal">Today one team explored the western side of the modern railway embankment which loops around the plateau and encompasses many of the main tent rings. One team member identified what appears to be a small surviving section of the original <st1:place st="on">Hejaz</st1:place> railway embankment, now superseded by the modern railway. Adjacent to this were what appeared to be five individual burials and a possible mass burial.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEije4vHpIQvEerPHdYpKZ2BZbH6eDLh5w7upCNmrSiUqYn-JCAKu-STB31JodHF43BZ5DhWzZlaRzkLYAN0E89q1_C8QtLqcwcam6sjnRQHpqui2upbzAnM__ep3GhL36T14W3GczKPbCw/s1600-h/Burial+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEije4vHpIQvEerPHdYpKZ2BZbH6eDLh5w7upCNmrSiUqYn-JCAKu-STB31JodHF43BZ5DhWzZlaRzkLYAN0E89q1_C8QtLqcwcam6sjnRQHpqui2upbzAnM__ep3GhL36T14W3GczKPbCw/s320/Burial+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269702792697142818" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The same team then yomped down into the wadi at Batn Al Ghul and headed south along the line of the old Hijaz railway to re-visit a small fortified hill which projects out into the wadi. Re-examination of the fortifications revealed two possible loopholes, (man-made slits in the rock designed for firing rifles through), and perhaps the circular foundations of an Ottoman army tent. Following on south down the slope they re-visited half a dozen or so tent rings and discovered within one a human shaped low mound which had been recently disturbed. There was no indication of human remains or any other finds. From this point they trekked back for an hour to the main working site.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXt5x2ft3iQJ_YQoasnQyt8D-HvFbJieXNPAFqePbw2FprXyHYLQfTAMN3QwC8r-5HiBw4LzZZNdd5fLSDNaPRa8abKvoSyitGhKko8hJDDiZ0xpUMejsc9T6ni_KEPs3OHks8KcIwmg/s1600-h/rail+line+batn+al+ghul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXt5x2ft3iQJ_YQoasnQyt8D-HvFbJieXNPAFqePbw2FprXyHYLQfTAMN3QwC8r-5HiBw4LzZZNdd5fLSDNaPRa8abKvoSyitGhKko8hJDDiZ0xpUMejsc9T6ni_KEPs3OHks8KcIwmg/s320/rail+line+batn+al+ghul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269703075007407122" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Later this team went north to a large hill overlooking the main camp site on the beginnings of the Fassu-ah ridge and encountered another small encampment with what looked like associated burials.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomx8oiefzaYgpdgASqyUROr1TRxmm2gMT6tUUHirfstZclYys-_80fGdbeBuXIPpOBO9OXx0CdzgSiM3jK_-69eCPfJj33DOPGv77okAgTLVGiABERSMAER5bBQQi_RzuX4srQmMgC2g/s1600-h/landscape+1+silhouette.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomx8oiefzaYgpdgASqyUROr1TRxmm2gMT6tUUHirfstZclYys-_80fGdbeBuXIPpOBO9OXx0CdzgSiM3jK_-69eCPfJj33DOPGv77okAgTLVGiABERSMAER5bBQQi_RzuX4srQmMgC2g/s320/landscape+1+silhouette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269702560308302370" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Each day the landscape archaeologists add more insights into the sheer scale of the Ottoman militarisation of this landscape, almost all of which would merit further detailed study. We hope to be able to spend some time at least some of these this season. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, as the main group further examined the sieved extractions from the tent ring floors, the detectorists carried out a final sweep of that site, picking up further finds including numbers of the now often found Crescent and Star buttons.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IJHILvQwvwFPYuMQVnRW7A9r9Iw-qSRSzXIt2i7H_53zpl2Dp0Yxe8wubq0rka8PWbztZoqiZpCbhyphenhyphenlfwDCfvdy4HzGW1geaRWv9jkw_gepI18ElsouvwrAE05fyUcOZ17BR7uid6PY/s1600-h/finds+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IJHILvQwvwFPYuMQVnRW7A9r9Iw-qSRSzXIt2i7H_53zpl2Dp0Yxe8wubq0rka8PWbztZoqiZpCbhyphenhyphenlfwDCfvdy4HzGW1geaRWv9jkw_gepI18ElsouvwrAE05fyUcOZ17BR7uid6PY/s320/finds+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269703585766090370" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Later this team crossed the railway line to examine the rubble and surrounding area of the former station at Batn AL Ghul. The seriously damaged site, with barely a fraction of one wall of the building remaining, was heavily strewn with metallic debris, some relatively modern, including wire, steel banding, waste tin cans and bits of railway paraphernalia. This made the detecting of that part of the site virtually impossible.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Moving further out into the flatter landscape in front of the ruined building however the detectorists did discover some evidence of military activity. Together with several fired cartridge cases and at least three different incoming rounds a large fragment of an expended Ottoman grenade was found. Whilst indicating that this site almost certainly did experience some form of military conflict these finds do not provide significant evidence for a major attack on the station. However the land around the station is so heavily disturbed by modern activity that it is possible larger scale conflict occurred, the physical remains of which has since been removed, destroyed or buried.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbN03aUEFlM22YgC9lBve4d0R1jPnza5uHmj0_yO9T8wJdnxInt5wnx9s_PXdOeGDQriRCuznjuUKBMb9aPH98aUOdbX7qjR0-dy5IincN2Sdx8xLgnmjK-fElXf6HRXrYZQ6G2GLVAg/s1600-h/grenade+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbN03aUEFlM22YgC9lBve4d0R1jPnza5uHmj0_yO9T8wJdnxInt5wnx9s_PXdOeGDQriRCuznjuUKBMb9aPH98aUOdbX7qjR0-dy5IincN2Sdx8xLgnmjK-fElXf6HRXrYZQ6G2GLVAg/s320/grenade+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269703962128530786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88iHF8fnK5BcYPKBA1t6PTHQhYPsjjYs4ykRyWUgprGJr95Fc71UrhEhL4gtkZNTrgWwW5JAxY-QN4lbmI5KfA8rdm9tTo9eg702RgS-hQJA_F00Ja6TCETSY5My1AM5K13jtENYKCMM/s1600-h/grenade+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88iHF8fnK5BcYPKBA1t6PTHQhYPsjjYs4ykRyWUgprGJr95Fc71UrhEhL4gtkZNTrgWwW5JAxY-QN4lbmI5KfA8rdm9tTo9eg702RgS-hQJA_F00Ja6TCETSY5My1AM5K13jtENYKCMM/s320/grenade+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269704418000139794" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-13015444242417513622008-11-16T19:44:00.002+00:002008-11-16T19:48:28.506+00:00Day 4 - Soft Beds and Missing Buttons<div class="post-body entry-content"> <p class="MsoNormal">Excavation of the tent ring at Batn Al Ghoul camp has now revealed evidence for deliberate deposits of soft sand in tent interiors. Today A vertical section was cut through one tent ring and this showed that a flat bottomed hollow had been cut and this appears to have been filled with the soft sand. We assume this was done because the occupants slept on the ground. We have found objects and food remains throughout these sand layers but especially towards the top.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjm-NNGSiSM6B93ANzXDJg2UspEhAngSa5TDMoLG8jL5EwxgFbF4A-MWSldptaJuh9ytwFjtF9_8Nse0WjgqS5tJ5Soz04ybgKMHzI9JMCFGa0d4KnalhMXV9g4y4aWg6nm1bXv3KBCA/s1600-h/planning+a+tent+ring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjm-NNGSiSM6B93ANzXDJg2UspEhAngSa5TDMoLG8jL5EwxgFbF4A-MWSldptaJuh9ytwFjtF9_8Nse0WjgqS5tJ5Soz04ybgKMHzI9JMCFGa0d4KnalhMXV9g4y4aWg6nm1bXv3KBCA/s320/planning+a+tent+ring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269327881245478978" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our plotting of finds inside the tent rings has shown the distribution to be random. Therefore the time has come to speed up the work. Tomorrow heavy tools will be used to remove the sandy fills while sieving for any last finds within the currently worked rings. Our plan then will be to move up to Fassuah ridge fort.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile our metal detectorists have been working on the opposite side of the former Hizaj railway. In this area, where there are many more tent rings, now dubbed by us the Southern Camp, our metal detectorists have continued to find large numbers of lost military buttons. Speculation as to the reasons for the Ottoman military’s propensity to lose their buttons is rife.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbYO1iQ_jtaDW6s61StLiOVQYo5p2_miw2miHyZ4lYh1CVhPFlIXWZTtKYA1NAMHQXI123Ev5ISvGvXX-ednqnqs4TEOqLCCAdLZcdEYbGh41opehccwWsClXZnTmkLqGG7bAZrrGRjc/s1600-h/view+down+escarpment.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbYO1iQ_jtaDW6s61StLiOVQYo5p2_miw2miHyZ4lYh1CVhPFlIXWZTtKYA1NAMHQXI123Ev5ISvGvXX-ednqnqs4TEOqLCCAdLZcdEYbGh41opehccwWsClXZnTmkLqGG7bAZrrGRjc/s320/view+down+escarpment.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269328488609747570" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our landscape archaeologist, roaming the landscape of Batn Al Ghoul as usual, finally stumbled upon the remains of the late Ottoman railway station, which we had been seeking for two years. Amid great heaps of bulldozed rubble could be seen the remains of the lower courses of a single surviving wall. Projecting from the rubble was a single piece of Hijaz railway track.</p><p class="MsoNormal">For those interested the operational sites for this season are to the south of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ma'an</span> in the map below.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8hCIU8xfauNPf_f0EGewC1P8uimgww4rxTs_Mlw_zj5lL5HU_aPPK12I-W0Kw4cFSmOMwVVCN7YP0WfgThRk3W5OWTLR0BwFRK0dtwLw2iWuMJUCIG48VjAj4qUiLAXHsn6XYJWIdbU/s1600-h/Jordan+Map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8hCIU8xfauNPf_f0EGewC1P8uimgww4rxTs_Mlw_zj5lL5HU_aPPK12I-W0Kw4cFSmOMwVVCN7YP0WfgThRk3W5OWTLR0BwFRK0dtwLw2iWuMJUCIG48VjAj4qUiLAXHsn6XYJWIdbU/s320/Jordan+Map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269340994594449362" border="0" /></a></p> </div> <div class="post-footer"> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"> <span class="post-author vcard"></span><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-1548419774"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7278271031594918353&postID=7031942606066993292" title="Edit Post"><br /></a> </span> </span> </div> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"> <span class="post-labels"> </span> </div> </div><!-- spacer for skins that want sidebar and main to be the same height-->Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-12589490925488170072008-11-15T18:43:00.006+00:002008-11-28T16:02:01.262+00:00Day 3 - The defences of Fassu-ah RidgeOne team went up to Fassu-ah Ridge fort with a Jordanian colleague to re-assess the evidence on the ground. It now seem s likely that the structures visible date to the thirteenth to 15th centuries AD, and are related to traditional uses of the routeway for pilgrimage and trade at the time. The fort then fell into disuse, being replaced by a 16th Century Ottoman fort about 5 km to the north, only to be re-occupied by late Ottoman troops during the Arab Revolt.<br /><br />A smaller team continued west along the ridge and located several further Ottoman camps and structures including 15 to 20 tent rings. Evidence for Coal burning and a possible large oven were located. Further exploration to the north revealed another Ottoman tent camp with two rows of tent rings and possible observation and machine gun posts. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvCcoZbpCVIJJbjs-fKHoC8YJDf5H4mMEreTfQ2oSeTgh-UECbuqCuJAH_Piebt2X3jvUy-mBJppkK25xsp_ixFVS9-DTYwjatySWCwCa-vrTNOASb5rpOTpl6Gmfob9oGQ7mOhKwESU/s1600-h/Excavating+a+tent+ring+today+at+Batn+Al+Ghul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvCcoZbpCVIJJbjs-fKHoC8YJDf5H4mMEreTfQ2oSeTgh-UECbuqCuJAH_Piebt2X3jvUy-mBJppkK25xsp_ixFVS9-DTYwjatySWCwCa-vrTNOASb5rpOTpl6Gmfob9oGQ7mOhKwESU/s320/Excavating+a+tent+ring+today+at+Batn+Al+Ghul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268957294951791522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, on the main excavation site, the excavation of tent rings continued with large numbers of finds, but we had great difficulty in identifying the actual original living floors. Work continues.<br /><br />It has become clear that the northern part of Batn Al Ghoul camp is separate from the southern part, and may therefore represent two separate phases of use. Certainly our metal detectorists have found much larger quantities of Otto military buttons on this site, bu little else – in contrast to the variety in the North area.<br /><br />Very few expended munitions have been found among over 200 metal finds. Was Batn Al Ghoul never attacked during the revolt?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU3Q0yq8-6Ujn9U4U0CjFYDWOL_3l73ZggELK_0TnWKLD_dsDXiGzbA12MPArW5q3Ham8whFb-9yocfDK1T_jnYHsJwZgMKNRg2cq4rHzbqKjbvc9nf77o4nRG4Y0LPlgmdS4z6q_QZ0/s1600-h/Garde+Imperiale+Ottomane+button.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU3Q0yq8-6Ujn9U4U0CjFYDWOL_3l73ZggELK_0TnWKLD_dsDXiGzbA12MPArW5q3Ham8whFb-9yocfDK1T_jnYHsJwZgMKNRg2cq4rHzbqKjbvc9nf77o4nRG4Y0LPlgmdS4z6q_QZ0/s320/Garde+Imperiale+Ottomane+button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268958546147024386" border="0" /></a>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-2270250657650272442008-11-14T19:46:00.001+00:002008-11-14T19:47:45.278+00:00Day 2 - Ottoman Army emerges from Desert SandExcavation of Batn Al Ghoul Ottoman Army Camp has already revealed on the first day spectacular finds. As anticipated, the stone tent rings forming the camp are proving to be rich in the micro debris of everyday military life. <br /><br />Six teams of three volunteers each excavated a tent ring and discoveries included food debris such as date stones, peach stones, and animal bone; fragments of rope, canvas and military uniform; and such special finds as Ottoman uniform buttons, a playing card, and a bank note. <br /><br />As work proceeds we hope to build up an intimate picture of the everyday life of Ottoman soldiers engaged on the Arab front of the First World War.<br /><br />At the fort at Fassouah Ridge overlooking Batn Al Ghul camp another team began a photogrammetric survey of the remains of the Ottoman Officers quarters. This involves placing targets along a stretch of wall and taking a series of overlapping photographs which can later be digitised and turned into a 3 D image. This work will continue for several more days. <br /><br />Another team explored the area south of the railway line and discovered an avenue made up of two parallel rows of ten tent rings which may well be an extension of the main Ottoman camp. In addition approximately 15 further tent rings were discovered to the west of the avenue of 20. <br /><br />The most spectacular find of the day was a button inscribed “Garde Imperiale Ottomane”.Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-9653950278254725562008-11-13T18:53:00.002+00:002008-11-13T19:35:10.880+00:00Day 1. Introductions and acclimatisation.After arriving at 3.30 am local time the main party swiftly retired to meet again at 11.30 for an introduction and briefing session. The team were introduced and the aims and history of the project together with specific activities for this season were outlined by Neil Faulkner. The main sites to be worked on were confirmed as the large encampment at Batn Al Ghul and the hilltop fortress at Fassouah 2. Work on these will begin tomorrow with a team assigned to each site.<br /><br />Following this we travelled north east to investigate a new site at Uneiza which had been identified by our field archaeologist, John Winterburn, by painstaking research over several months using images from Google Earth. This is a large circular trench system with tent rings and other WW1 military workings at the top of a series of hills. The 2 km trek from the road over and up the steep basalt strewn landscape soon gave the new members of our party an insight into the harshness of this terrain. The Google Earth coordinates of this site are 767076 3376533 for those interested and the militarised landscape elements can be clearly seen from around 3000 metres, with a 250m trench easily visible running from NE to SSW.<br /><br />In the short time we were there today several ottoman shell cases were found on the surface near the trenches. These were quickly identified as being Ottoman rounds fired during WW1. As to whether they represent evidence of battle at this site remains the subject of further investigation and research. This looks like it might be a possible site for the team to return to in a subsequent season.<br /><br />Tomorrow this season’s work begins in earnest with the incredibly exciting prospect of new finds at the site of the discovery of the Ottoman army tunic last season and the beginnings of systematic recoding of the fortress.<br /><br />Lastly many thanks again to the Candles Hotel in Petra for their kindness in allowing us to freely use their internet access to upload this blog. We are extremely grateful for their assistance again this year.Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-78686535134075895362008-11-10T19:57:00.002+00:002008-11-11T11:25:26.702+00:00Two Days To Go - pre-trip preparation information.The advance party set off today and are hopefully arriving about now in Jordan. They will be joined by the main group, mostly leaving from Heathrow on Wednesday, together with several others travelling from various locations around the world. Hopefully the airport formalities will go without a hitch this year, and it will be really good if the equipment sails through at both ends. Last year the metal detectors and other technical equipment were held by the authorities at Alia Airport in Amman overnight, which was both a logistical pain and meant that the group had a disjointed start to proceedings, as two members remained in Amman to accompany the kit the next day.<br /><br />As we arrive at our hotel very early on Thursday morning that day is scheduled for fairly light activities, with briefings and acclimatisation visits scheduled for the afternoon. The work proper begins on Friday and daily reports from the desert will appear on this blog from then. Please do have a look at last year's blog and the GWAG/GARP websites via the links on the right to get a feel for the project.Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-71002457515435799872008-09-03T22:56:00.000+01:002008-09-04T21:06:47.305+01:00Back to Jordan: preparing for the third season in the fieldWe are now preparing for our third field season in Southern Jordan. A team of 28 will be flying out on 12 November for a two full weeks’ work. What are we hoping to achieve?<br /><br />Excavating an Ottoman camp<br /><br />At Batn Al-Ghoul, the site of an abandoned and demolished railway station, we will be excavating part of a former Ottoman camp. The preservation here in the dry desert conditions is superb, with surviving wood, rope, canvas, sacking, and even parts of uniforms. We plan ‘micro-excavation’ – careful exposure and recording of artefacts and food remains in situ – in order to reconstruct something of the everyday life of Ottoman soldiers guarding this remote desert outpost.<br /><br />Exploring an Ottoman fort<br /><br />Nearby, on a high ridge overlooking Wadi Rutm, where we worked in 2006 and 2007, we will be investigating the well-preserved remains of a large Ottoman fort, complete with breastworks, trenches, blockhouse, oven, and trackways. The local rumour is that this was a major command-and-control centre for the anti-insurgency war in the area. We aim to find out.<br /><br />Reconstructing an Arab Revolt battleground<br /><br />At Jerdun, a new site, we are planning preliminary work to test the archaeological potential. Contemporary records show strong defences around the railway station here and describe a major battle to capture it. We are hoping that we can trace the trenches on the ground, and, from scatters of expended munitions, to begin to build a picture of the battle itself.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jordan1914-18archaeology.org/2008%20season.htm"><span style="font-weight:bold;">More information and images here</span></a>Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7278271031594918353.post-1720296765562994682008-07-15T12:17:00.000+01:002008-07-15T12:18:55.573+01:00BLOG for the GARP Jordan Season 3 digCreated 15/07/08 - more info to follow...Roger Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03194599375075414563noreply@blogger.com0