Back from the “Black Desert”: Overview and Latest Results of the Western Harra Survey Project (01/10/2019)
Speakers
Marie-Laure Chambarde (Ph.D. in archaeology, associated researcher at Archéorient) et Stefan Smith (Ph.D. in archaeology, FWO [PEGASUS] Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at Ghent University)
Abstract
The Western Harra Survey (WHS) is investigating the desert north-east of the Azraq basin. The region is paved by basalt boulders which for thousands of years have been used for construction, leading to the still enigmatic so-called “Black Desert” landscape. This archaeological project is investigating prehistoric patterns of settlement through the study of the human occupation and natural environment of the western edges and interior of the Harra. The WHS project will finish its fourth season with this conference, giving an overview of the area under study and presenting up-to-date fieldwork results. As the first stage of the project is coming to an end, we will present our methodologies so far, which are based on a combination of remote sensing over a large area and ground survey of targeted sites. The latest results include in particular the aerial recording of sites and their surroundings using a drone and the investigation of an ancient path network, helping to understand the crucial issue of human movement through the region.
Date and time
October 1, 2019, 6:30 pm
Location
French Institute of Jordan (IFJ, Jabal Al-Weibdeh, Amman)
Contact & information
contact.jordanie@ifporient.org
