The Archaeology of Everyday Life in Mamluk Jordan: Artifact Analysis, Collections Management, and Database Entry
Benjamin Porter, Professor
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2023 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2024.
The Dhiban Project is investigating the animal economies and food regimes of a 14th-century CE village located in Jordan. During this period, Dhiban fell under the sway of the Mamluk kingdom, who controlled the region from Cairo. Little is known about the animal and plant economies of ordinary people during this important century. Archaeological excavations between 2004 and 2019 have recovered thousands of animal bones and carbonized seeds that analysts are now studying in a two-year project.
Role: Students will help the faculty mentor with specific tasks. This includes:
1. Analyzing ceramic, metal, glass, and animal bone artifacts found on house floors
2. Rehousing artifacts into specimen bags.
3. Enter information into a project database.
Students will learn how to analyze archaeological artifacts, handle delicate evidence, and organize important information that supports research. Students will also learn how evidence and information is managed following archaeological field research.
Qualifications: Students should be patient, careful, and passionate about discovering new things about the ancient world. Students should be comfortable using computers and transferring information from analog to digital formats. Students will work in-person in the mentor's office in the Social Sciences Building.
Hours: 3-5 hrs