Faunal Data from Al-Wu’ayra Fortress, Petra Valley, Jordan

Abstract

Al-Wu’ayra fortress was part of a network of fortified settlements controlling the major caravan routes from Syria to southern Jordan. The fortress ruled the access to the Petra valley during the Crusader and Ayyubid periods. The analyzed animal bones, collected in 1993 from the area of the military garrison, are dated to the 12th century. The study was carried out by Chiara A. Corbino and Paul Mazza (University of Florence) from 2005 to 2007 as part of the project Medieval Petra. Archaeology of Crusader and Ayyubid settlements in Transjordan of the University of Florence (Italy).

List of related publications

Corbino C.A. and P. Mazza

Brown, R. M. and K. Rielly

Tonghini C. and A. Vanni Desideri

Vannini G. and C. Tonghini

Vannini G. and A. Vanni Desideri

Supporters

• University of Florence
• CNR (Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche- Italy-) of Rome
• CNRS (Centre National de Recerce Scientific- France-) of Marsiglie
• The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Project director, Prof. Guido Vannini (University of Florence)

Methodological notes

The faunal remains have been identified using atlases (Barone 1976; Boessneck, Müller and Teichert 1964; Cohen and Serjeantson 1986; Halstead, Collins and Isaakidou 2002; Prummel and Frisch 1986; Schmid 1972; Tomek and Bocheński 2000), as well as the specimens of the ‘Borzatti’ reference collection of the University of Florence. Ontogenetic data are based on long bone epiphyseal fusion and ossification degree (Reitz and Wing 1999), as well as on the Hillson’s (1986) tooth eruption and wear criteria.

References

Barone, R.

Boessneck, J., Müller, H.H. and M. Teichert

Cohen, A. and D. Serjeantson

Halstead, P., Collins, P., and V., Isaakidou

Hillson, S.

Prummel, W. and H.J. Frisch

Reitz, E.J. and E.S. Wing

Schmid, E.

Tomek, T. and Z. Bocheński