ABSTRACT
The author’s PhD research into the economic capital of the archaeology of Wadi Feynan, Southern Jordan, also indicates an interesting interaction of capitals (Burtenshaw, 2013: 205-303). Wadi Feynan (Faynan is used in naming archaeological sites of the area) lies between the Wadi Arabah and the central plateau, a short way north of Petra. The archaeology of the area includes signifi cant Neolithic remains, Iron Age and Roman remains centred on the area’s copper deposits, and Byzantine churches and cemeteries, which relate to pilgrimages to the area due to the Christian slaves used in the copper mines by the Romans (Finlayson & Mithen, 2007; Levy, et al., 2002a; 2002b). Archaeological excavations have been carried out in the area by a variety of international and Jordanian teams over the past twenty-fi ve years. A modest level of tourism comes through the area; the majority of visitors coming for walking, wildlife, and to experience an eco-lodge established in the area on the edge of the adjacent Dana Biosphere Reserve. Very few tourists had heard of the archaeological remains of the area, and fewer come for them directly. Several tribes live in the local area, with different tribes benefi ting differently from different forms of tourism.
