ABSTRACT
In the modern Middle East, with its long and eventful history of urbanism, the consequences of urban continuity present a daunting challenge to archaeological research. Since living communities frequently occupy the sites of ancient settlements, the preservation of archaeological sites situated within these thriving urban environments introduce a complex array of issues involving traditional archaeological exploration, site conservation, cultural resource management, and modern urban development. The city of Madaba, located 30 km southwest of ‘Amman amidst the fertile rolling plains of the Central Jordan Plateau, represents a case in point. Continuing an urban tradition of some 5,000 years, the modern town engulfs the ancient settlement, preserved in the form of a large low-lying tall and acropolis that still forms a visible rise in the town center (Fig. 1). Madaba’s historical longevity, therefore, represents both a challenge and an exceptional opportunity to investigate the historical development of urban life and its impact on the social and cultural institutions of the communities that have lived over the millennia in the central highlands of Jordan.
