The area selected for this research was based upon the availability in Google Earth of a high-resolution satellite photograph of southern Jordan (figs. 5.1-2). The photograph chosen covers portions of the Ma’an plateau, the ras en naqab escarpment, and the western end of the Wadi Hisma.29 The survey universe is limited to the western end of Wadi Hisma, the northern and eastern boundaries of which are delimited by the Ras en Naqab escarpment and Judaiyid basin, respectively. The western and southern limits of the survey area are demarcated by the satellite image coverage (fig. 5.2). Major topographic features in this part of the Wadi Hisma include the Wadi Judaiyid, Wadi Ras en Naqab, and Jebel Jill. The landscape ranges in elevation from 1000 to 1300 m and is covered with Irano-Turanian steppe vegetation (e. g., Henry 1995: 16, fig. 1.5, 1.7). Significant landmarks in the western part of the survey universe include a north-south road, Highway 15, and the community of Dabet Hanoot.
Black tents and animal pens were identified in Google Earth by scrolling through the survey universe at an “eye elevation” ranging from 1.01 to 1.39 km.30 Also visible in the photograph are circular and square patches of sediments that vary in color from light brown to black. Based upon the author’s previous fieldwork elsewhere in southern Jordan (Saidel 2001), these discolorations are interpreted as dung deposits associated with disused animal pens (fig. 5.3). Motor vehicles and water tanks were identified at a few tent camps. Measurements of the length and width of tents, pens, structures, and other features were made in square meters using the Google Earth “ruler tool” (fig. 5.4).
World History
