Karak Resources Project

Historians rely on several sources of information when writing the history of any given region. Primary among these are archaeological data and texts. Unfortunately, these two sources are not always available for all time periods in all locations. When these two sets of information are missing or provide inadequate data, other methods must be used to reconstruct history. One of these additional methods is the surface survey, which can provide information about settlements patterns. Such patterns sometimes allow historians to make basic statements about the social and political organization of a region.

Background

The Late Bronze Period (1550-1200 B.C.) on the Karak Plateau (the area of Moab in the Old Testament) is one such period for which textual and archaeological data are scarce.

Textual Material

The Bible provides almost no evidence for Moab during this period, as it corresponds to the time when Israel was in Egypt. The only contemporary textual evidence from Moab itself comes from the end of this period. It is an inscribed stele known as the Balu’a stele, but unfortunately its writing cannot be deciphered.

A few Egyptian texts mention Moab during this period. The area to the west of the Jordan River was part of the Egyptian empire at this point, as were sections of northern Jordan. It is not known, however, whether Moab was a part of this empire. Rameses II (1279-1212 B.C.) did campaign through this area, but it is not certain whether his presence established Egyptian control over Moab. This is one question that settlement patterns research may be able to answer. Other Egyptian texts refer to bedouin in this area, but that does not provide much information, as bedouin have lived in Moab in almost every period, including the present.

Archaeological Data

Only one major Late Bronze Age site has been excavated on the Karak Plateau. This is the site of Balu’a, which is still under excavation at present. The information from this site has only been published in preliminary form. A few soundings have been carried out at other sites. On the whole, however, the archaeological data from the Karak Plateau provide little information for historical reconstructions.