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Reconstructing the Chronology of the House XVII-XVIII Complex at Umm el-Jimal, East Jordan: Radiocarbon Dates of Organic Inclusions of Architectural Mortars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2016

Khaled Al-Bashaireh
Khaled Al-Bashaireh*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, Yarmouk University, Postal Code 211-63, Irbid, Jordan. Email: khaledsm@email.arizona.edu
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Abstract

This article presents accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates of organic inclusions of cement materials from the House XVII-XVIII Complex located in the Umm el-Jimal archaeological site, east Jordan, aiming at refining the unclear chronology of the house. Fine straws and small fragments of charcoal uncovered from preserved architectural lime mortars and plasters were dated without carrying out extensive excavations. The results indicate that the house most probably was initially plastered or built during the middle of the Byzantine period. The results agree with the historical and archaeological data indicating that Umm el-Jimal flourished during this period; therefore, it is probable that the house was established during this time to meet the housing demand for the increased number of its population.

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Type
Articles
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Radiocarbon , Volume 56 , Issue 1 , 2014 , pp. 245 - 256
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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