CASE STUDY - al Mudaybi’, Jordan
The site of al-Mudaybi’ is a fort on the Karak Plateau, that was constructed during the Iron II period (925-586 BC). It was abandoned during the Late Islamic (AD 1516-1918). Despite this long-term use, the duration of the individual occupations seems to have been quite short.
Sampling Strategy
A sample volume of 40-50 liters was aimed at, but not always possible due to the small size of the features. It was particularly important to obtain large samples here, due to the short periods of settlement leaving only low density deposits. Only sealed deposits were sampled, which included hearths, tabuns, fireplaces and ashy lenses. During the seasons of 1997 and 1999, 57 soil samples were taken. Only 17 of these merited full analysis. This decision was based on the state of preservation, and the number of identifiable grains/ seeds being great enough to allow a valid interpretation. Those taken in the 2001 season have yet to be sorted.
Tabun
What was found at al-Mudaybi’?
Dung was found in association with some of the samples from this site. In combination with a number of other factors like the steppe environment, this suggests dung was a source of fuel. Consequently, the material preserved is more directly related to what the animals were eating, than the humans.
Cultivated crops
The predominant crop was barley. Barley is commonly cultivated as a fodder crop, with wheat being held in higher regard, and kept for human consumption. Wheat was also found, but only in minor quantities. This further confirms the probability of the source of fuel being dung. Wheat may have entered the archaeological record through cooking accidents, or if a spoiled crop was fed to the animals. Lentil and bitter vetch were also present in low quantities.
Fruit
Fig, grape and date were all found in occasional samples. Fig was the most abundant. The latter two require a large volume of water to survive. This may mean that although fig could possibly have been cultivated locally, grape and date were probably brought in through trade.
Wild Plants
The wild seeds show that the environment was still very dry and arid, but species such as sedges, indicate there was a significant water source close to the site, and the climate was slightly wetter.
CONCLUSION
A sensible sampling strategy, and the use of flotation to extract charred grains and seeds from the soil, has helped to determine the amount of trade and exchange that occurred at al-Mudaybi’, along with the agricultural practices, and what was eaten by both the human occupants, and their livestock.
This case study is not meant to give a full or detailed account of the site, or of the Karak Plateau. It is provided purely to give a glimpse of the potential use of archaeobotany to the reconstruction of archaeological sites. For further information about the site, and how flotation contributes towards this study, reading and web sites are provided below.