Islamic Landscapes of Southern Jordan: The Evidence from Archaeological Investigations of Wādī Fidān in the Faynān Region

Wādī Fidān, the western portion of the Wādī Faynān system, has long been recognized as important for understanding the pre- and proto-historic occupation of southern Jordan. Its later periods are less known, but it remained a dynamic and important part of the regional settlement system. This paper presents the results of analysis of data from legacy excavations at Khirbat Ḥamrā Ifdān (KHI) and Wādī Fidān District (WFD) 50a and situates the results of these excavations within the broader picture of Islamic period settlement revealed by intensive regional surveys. The evidence from both sites reveals two distinct phases of Islamic period occupation. The first, the Early Islamic (ca. 630–1000 a.d.), is characterized by a mixture of continuity of settlement at sites with Roman–Byzantine occupation and reorganization of settlement patterns to support a small estate established at KHI, further revealing the mosaic of settlement processes characterizing southern Jordan during this period. The second, the Late Islamic occupation (1800–ca. 1916 a.d.), is characterized by seasonal use of Wādī Fidān by Bedouin, typical for southern Jordan during this period. Burials at WFD 50a, while disturbed by construction activity, provide a unique window into this period of occupation.