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The 13^th season of the joint Bioarchaeology of North Jordan project continued the search for and excavation of tombs along the eastern escarpment of Wadi Natfieh, just southwest of Irbid City (Irbid District) between 620 and 695 meters above sea level.  The 2007 field season was the second season at Wadi Natfieh for the project co-sponsored by the University of Arkansas and Yarmouk University.  The research goals for this season were: 1) to locate and excavate single person horizontal shaft tomb; 2) ascertain the dating of this tomb type; 3) reconstruct the burial program for the people buried in these tombs.

The 2007 season investigated a 75 meter long section of the east wadi slope between 647 and 660 meters above sea level.  The investigation resulted in the location of three rows of tombs, 32 of which were excavated.  Of the excavated tombs, 30 were horizontal shaft tombs whose burial chamber is approximately the same width as the entrance.  The burial chambers averaged 117 cm in length, 76 cm in width, and 99 cm in height.  The remaining two excavated tombs were horizontal chamber tombs, both of which had previously been looted.  These tombs averaged 316 cm by 296 cm.  The position and condition of the skeletal remains and personal objects indicate that at least nine tombs had never been looted.  Nine tombs produced complete personal objects while seven tombs exhibited undisturbed skeletal remains.  The burial positions are known for nine of the tombs:  five supine extended with heads to the rear of the chamber, two on their side with heads to the rear, and two extended with their heads to the door.  Four of the tombs contained more than one individual.  Two of these contained multiple adults while the other two contained an adult and a juvenile.

The skeletal remains were transported to the Anthropology Laboratories at Yarmouk University for cleaning and analysis.  Analysis of skeletal remains yielded information about twenty tombs. The remains of nine males and four females were identified.  Four of the males were between twenty and 35 years of age and four were between 35 and 50 years of age.  One male was of indeterminate age.  Three of the females were between twenty and 35 years of age and one was between 35 and 50 years of age. Five sub-adults were identified with the youngest being between 1.5 and 3.0 years of age.

Students Excavating Tombs

Students Cleaning Skeletal Remains