Signs of sedentism and mobility in an agro-pastoral community during the Levantine Middle Bronze Age: Interpreting site function and occupation strategy at Zahrat adh-Dhra‘ 1 in Jordan

摘要: Abstract Successfully interpreting levels of permanence at archaeological sites is frequently hampered by the difficulty correlating sedentary or mobile behavior with specific material culture traits. Owing to diversity occupation strategies, which can combine varying any number economic subsistence strategies and behavioral characteristics, archaeologists have remained divided over methodological approaches are most suitable. In southern Levant, groups enjoyed a close persistent relationship, stimulated flexible approach allowed for fluctuations in among same social through time. Such generated problematic record that contain signs both behaviors. Examination agriculturally marginal Middle Bronze II settlement Zahrat adh-Dhra‘ 1, located on Dead Sea Plain Jordan, illustrates difficulties associated Levantine sites. The from site, comprising evidence subsistence, trade, behavior, provides times conflicting signals sedentary, semi-sedentary (transhumant), possibly non-sedentary occupation. Due lack clearly prescribed indices sites, interpretations must rely flexible, inductive approach, seeks balance suites preference rigid correlation ethnographically derived models.