New techniques for tracing ephemeral occupation in arid, dynamic environments – case studies from Wadi Faynan and Wadi el-Jilat, Jordan

Can we identify transitory, ephemeral camp sites in dynamic environments? How can we
maximise the information gained from such sites, depicting mobile-pastoral subsistence,
to enable a consideration of spatial patterns of activity? Ephemeral occupation is
underrepresented within archaeological investigations, perhaps because short-lived sites
are notoriously difficult to interpret due to the poor preservation of their remains. However,
information about ancient modes of existence in peripheral areas carries much value for
the interpretation of past ways of life that are currently understated within archaeological
narratives. This paper will discuss recent methodological developments in geoarchaeology,
which may enable us to maximise the information gained from ephemeral sites, even
after a long period of abandonment. The value of reconstructing ‘marginal’ lifestyles for
archaeological accounts will be discussed, addressing the visibility of subsistence strategies
which have dominated many landscapes in the Near East since the Neolithic. The potential
of the application of a dual methodology, using phytolith and geochemical soil analysis, to
achieve a better understanding of the use of space at ephemeral archaeological sites will be
explored by presenting two case studies from Jordan