Clark/Narrating Archaeological Sites, 8. Contextualizing the Madaba Plains Project at Tall al-ʿUmayri The Early Iron Age

In what ways and to what extent do the archaeological finds from the Early Iron Age at Tall al-ʿUmayri fit conventional wisdom surrounding the sociopolitical dynamics in the shift from tribal societies to emerging states in the Southern Levant during this period? The chapter will focus on finds that support this meta- narrative (e.g., the “four-room” house and neighboring domestic structures and remains, and the defense system) and finds that diverge from it (such as some of the elite goods represented early in this period). The chapter will also inquire into the backstories behind excavations into the Early Iron Age at both ʿUmayri and Tall Ḥisbān and the biblical/historical issues driving excavations at the beginning and how these transformed dramatically over time on the project.