Doctoral Dissertation Research: Chronology and Technological Styles of Nabataean and Roman Plasters and Mortars at Petra (Jordan)

在David killick博士的指导下，Khaled Al-Bashaireh先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他从约旦佩特拉遗址收集了一系列石膏、砂浆和水泥。它们被用来覆盖纪念碑和坟墓的立面，捆绑砂岩砖，建造水坝，水渠和蓄水池。这些材料将在耶尔穆克大学和亚利桑那大学进行分析，以获得有关它们的年龄以及制造它们的材料和方法的信息。佩特拉古城（约旦）长期以来一直吸引着旅行者、探险家、考古学家和电影制作人。这座城市本身有着悠久而复杂的历史，几个世纪以来一直是贸易中心。纳巴泰阿拉伯人（一个来自阿拉伯半岛的游牧部落，他们定居在该地区，并奠定了一个延伸到叙利亚的商业帝国的基础）在公元前6世纪左右建立了佩特拉。他们统治着约旦南部的土地，沿着峡谷壁用坚固的玫瑰色砂岩悬崖雕刻寺庙、坟墓和精美的建筑。佩特拉在公元1世纪被罗马人占领，然后在7世纪被穆斯林占领。虽然这段历史的轮廓是众所周知的，但由于建筑物和建筑特征很难确定日期，因此缺乏施工顺序的详细知识。对石膏本身和其中包含的有机物质进行放射性碳分析提供了一种改进这一序列的方法。考古学家还关注文化变迁和相互作用的过程。他们希望了解不同的文化如何保持和发展自己的传统，以及他们如何借鉴和与他人交流信息。我们可以通过对技术知识的考察来了解这个过程。正如Al-Bashaireh所指出的，纳巴泰人、罗马人和穆斯林用不同的方法制造一系列砂浆、石膏和水泥，通过分析从佩特拉收集的材料，可以追踪这些产品随时间的变化。已经收集了29个砂浆样品、46个石膏样品和相关地质材料，并将进行研究。组成，结构，孔隙率和燃烧温度将被确定。将使用各种各样的分析技术。这项研究将有助于培养一名有前途的科学家，也将加强美国和约旦研究人员之间的考古联系。

Under the direction of Dr. David killick, Mr. Khaled Al-Bashaireh will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He has collected a series of plasters, mortar and cement from the site of Petra, Jordan. These were used to cover the facades of its monuments and tombs, to bind sandstone bricks and to construct dams, water canals and cisterns. These materials will be analyzed at Yarmouk University and the University of Arizona to yield information on both their age and the materials and methods by which they were fabricated.The ancient city of Petra (Jordan) has long attracted travelers, explorers, archaeologists and movie makers. The city itself has a long and complex history and served for centuries as a center for trade. The Nabataean Arabs (a nomadic tribe from the Arabian peninsula who settled in the area and laid the foundations of a commercial empire that extended into Syria) established Petra around the 6th century BC. They dominated the lands of southern Jordan and carved temples, tombs and elaborated buildings out of solid rose-colored sandstone cliffs along the canyon walls. Petra was captured by the Romans in the first century AD and then by the Muslims in the seventh century. While the outlines of this history are well known, the detailed knowledge of the construction sequence are lacking because buildings and architectural features can be difficult to date. Radiocarbon analysis of plasters themselves and the organic materials contained within them provide one means to refine this sequence. Archaeologists also focus on the process of cultural change and interaction. They wish to understand how different cultures both maintain and develop their own traditions and how they borrow from and exchange information with others. One insight into this process can be obtained through the examination of technical knowledge. As Mr. Al-Bashaireh notes, Nabataeans, Romans and Muslims had distinct ways to make a series of mortars, plasters and cements and through analysis of materials collected from Petra it will be possible to trace changes in these products over time. Twenty nine samples of mortar, 46 plasters and relevant geological materials have been collected and will be studied. Composition, structure, porosity and combustion temperatures will be determined. A wide variety of analytic techniques will be employed.The research will both assist in training a promising scientist and also strengthening archaeological ties between US and Jordanian researchers.