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The cemeteries of the Dead Sea Plain (Map by Austin “Chad” Hill).

During the Early Bronze Age I (c. 3700-3100 BCE), the eastern Dead Sea Plain was home to three massive cemeteries at Bab adh-Dhra’, es-Safi, and Fifa. The Bab adh-Dhra’ cemetery in particular has been extensively studied by scholars who have elucidated mortuary rituals carried out at the site and discussed the origins and potential functions of objects found in its tombs. While certain object categories such as pottery and basalt bowls have been extensively studied, research on the hundreds of beads found at each of the Dead Sea Plains cemeteries sites has been far more limited. My research employs a use-wear approach to better understand the use of beads found in different family’s tombs at Fifa. These beads appear to primarily be made out of carnelian and glazed steatite.

Photo of the author reducing a bead blank to the proper size on a basalt slab (Photo by Author).

Use-wear analysis uses optical microscopy to look for regularly appearing patterns on archaeological objects. These patterns might say something about how the object was made, how it was used, or even how long it was used for. To understand these patterns however, it is crucial that use-wear analysts conduct a variety of archaeological experiments that focus on reproducing the same types of patterns found on archaeological examples. Since carnelian has already been the subject of several use-wear studies, I decided to focus my research this summer on reproducing steatite beads of the size and shape of those found at Fifa, and then wearing those beads to see if I could observe any changes over time.

Starting with a chunk of steatite, I used flint and metal blades to fashion a long cuboid. I then rolled the cuboid on grinding slabs made of basalt and sandstone. This transformed the steatite cuboid into a long tube. From there, I used either a flint or metal blade to saw off thin bead blanks. These were then drilled with either a bone drill, a flint drill, or a drill made out of copper wire. Lastly, I reduced the diameter and length of my bead to the size of those found in the archaeological record the same grinding stones. Each material I used to create my steatite beads was carefully chosen to be similar to ones that could have been used to produce the beads during the Early Bronze Age.

After creating my beads, I began wearing a group of them in a necklace, regularly observing how their surfaces changed over time. As steatite is very soft, it did not take long for manufacturing marks left behind from their slicing, grinding, and perforation to disappear.

Once I established a baseline for understanding the development of wear on unglazed steatite beads, I turned my attention towards conducting a new set of experiments focused on replicating glazing techniques used in predynastic Egypt. To ensure I cast a wide enough net to replicate the patterns found on the beads found at Fifa, I used several different glazing recipes and methods. Despite following already published recipes, I unfortunately was only able to achieve success with one glazing method. In the coming months, I will observe the development of wear on this set of beads that I believe most closely correlate to those found at Fifa.

Beads covered with glazing mixture made of natron and malachite prior to being placed in a kiln (photo by author).

A strand of partially glazed beads that will be worn and observed in the coming months (photo by author).

My experimental research this summer, made possible by ASOR’s generous summer stipend program, has given me a chance to explore experimental archaeology, something entirely new to my archaeological toolkit. Despite the challenges posed by numerous broken beads, unsuccessful glazing attempts, and all too much time alone in a windowless room accompanied by only a kiln and large blocks of steatite, the experimental work I’ve done this summer will without a doubt allow me to better understand Fifa’s excavated bead assemblage. In turn, I believe that it will allow me use to use wear to better understand the bead’s wearers.

Julian Hirsch is a master’s student in Anthropological Archaeology at Trent University. His current research focuses on using use-wear to better understand the life histories of ornaments found in Early Bronze Age tombs. Julian also maintains an active research interest in the history of Biblical Archaeology.  

During the summer of 2021, ASOR supported 27 undergraduate and graduate students through the Summer Stipend Program. These students undertook non-fieldwork archaeological research projects led by ASOR-affiliated project directors. They also took part in monthly cohort group meetings hosted via zoom. Read a summary of these cohort meetings here.

Stay tuned for more updates from the 2021 Summer Stipend recipients!