Alan G Walmsley
Acknowledged as a leading scholar and educator in the fields of archaeology, heritage, and social history, my research focuses on the Arab and Islamic worlds of the east Mediterranean and Arabia from the third century BCE to the sixteenth century CE. Building on a half century of study, my current interest is in re-examining archival archaeological sources and to meld these neglected resources with recent field discoveries. Once collated, the information is put to rigorous assessment by applying a theoretical and evaluative toolkit consisting of post-colonialism, socioeconomics, and community resilience under the historical umbrella of the longue durée. In this way, contemporary modelling is challenging outmoded narratives tarnished by imperialist and racist dogma while creating new understandings of societal change from antiquity into Islamic times from an evidence-based, archaeological perspective.
Appointed Honorary Professor in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University in 2017, I previously held academic positions at the universities of Auckland, Sydney, Western Australia, and Copenhagen. I was twice Fellow at Harvard’s Dumbarton Oaks, Visiting Fellow in Hellenic Studies at Princeton University, and was elected Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters in 2009. From 2009 to 2016 I was director of the Materiality in Islam Research Initiative, an interdisciplinary research group at Copenhagen University devoted to the study of Islamic archaeology, visual culture, and heritage. An active field researcher, I have designed and directed pioneering excavations at three prominent sites in Jordan and at Qatar’s World Heritage site of Al Zubārah. An author and editor of 133 publications and numerous academic reports, my recent writings embrace the concept of ‘pragmatic’ archaeology, with an emphasis on shaping new evidence-based narratives on the cultural history, materiality, and heritage of the east Mediterranean and Arabia down to modern times.
Phone: +61 418 931 300
Address: PO Box 749
Double Bay
NSW 1360
Australia
Appointed Honorary Professor in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University in 2017, I previously held academic positions at the universities of Auckland, Sydney, Western Australia, and Copenhagen. I was twice Fellow at Harvard’s Dumbarton Oaks, Visiting Fellow in Hellenic Studies at Princeton University, and was elected Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters in 2009. From 2009 to 2016 I was director of the Materiality in Islam Research Initiative, an interdisciplinary research group at Copenhagen University devoted to the study of Islamic archaeology, visual culture, and heritage. An active field researcher, I have designed and directed pioneering excavations at three prominent sites in Jordan and at Qatar’s World Heritage site of Al Zubārah. An author and editor of 133 publications and numerous academic reports, my recent writings embrace the concept of ‘pragmatic’ archaeology, with an emphasis on shaping new evidence-based narratives on the cultural history, materiality, and heritage of the east Mediterranean and Arabia down to modern times.
Phone: +61 418 931 300
Address: PO Box 749
Double Bay
NSW 1360
Australia
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Books by Alan G Walmsley
_Editor/authors_
HE Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani, Noof Ibrahim Abdulla, Sultan Muhesen, Alan G. Walmsley, Fatema Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Sandra Rosendahl, Ingolf Thuesen, et al.
geographical Syria-Palestine. The region offers the archaeologist particular attractions in dealing with an Islamic past as a result of the tremendous advances made in relevant archaeological research in the last few decades. This work proposes new ways of understanding and interpreting the first Islamic centuries in Syria-Palestine, based on clear and verifiable information gleaned from a range of archaeological discoveries.
1985 undertaken by the Joint University of Sydney and College of Wooster (Ohio) Excavations at Pella in Jordan.
Research Thesis by Alan G Walmsley
This thesis attempts to deal with some of these shortcomings by investigating the administrative geography, routes and urban framework of the two Islamic provinces of the jund of Filastin and the jund of al-Urdunn during the first four centuries of Islamic history, that is during the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and early Fatimid periods (ca. 20-375/640-985). The material for this study comes from a number of varied sources, both literary and archaeological. Particular attention is paid to the Arabic written works of the 3rd/9th and 4th/10th centuries, especially those which deal with the historical, administrative and descriptive geography of the Islamic World. Archaeological research has produced further detailed information on the urban centres of Filastin and al-Urdunn and their administration. In particular a combination of Early Islamic numismatics and the Umayyad papyri documents from Nessana makes a valuable contribution to identifying the administrative structure of these two provinces under the Rashidun and Umayyad caliphates.
Book Chapters by Alan G Walmsley
Updated version.
ISBN: 978-1-955918-06-0
Blanke, L. and Walmsley, A. G. (2022) 'Resilient cities: Renewal after disaster in three late antique towns of the East Mediterranean', in Martínez Jiménez, J. and Ottewill-Soulsby, S. (eds.) Remembering and forgetting the ancient city: Vol. 2 Impact of the Ancient City. Oxford: Oxbow, pp. 69-107.
The Arabic and Crusader written sources, archaeological results (what little exists) and, most critically, the activities of the Crusaders east of the Jordan Rift valley point to a sustained level of socio-economic activity in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. There were at least eight major population centres reliant on Jordan, supported by a vibrant rural sector, trade and commerce. The importance of trade, especially in the eleventh century, is demonstrated by the finds at Ayla (al-`Aqaba), but the benefits would have spread up the main communication routes. There is growing evidence, at Khirbat Faris and Dhiban for instance, that many sites with easily recognized Ayyubid and Mamluk occupation were also settled in Fatimid, Seljuq and perhaps Crusader times, the later material often disguising earlier evidence (a problem especially apparent in surveys). If so, the supposed `settlement gap' between the early Abbasid and Mamluk periods quickly disappears. Settlement levels were probably not significantly less than in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods.
_Editor/authors_
HE Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani, Noof Ibrahim Abdulla, Sultan Muhesen, Alan G. Walmsley, Fatema Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Sandra Rosendahl, Ingolf Thuesen, et al.
geographical Syria-Palestine. The region offers the archaeologist particular attractions in dealing with an Islamic past as a result of the tremendous advances made in relevant archaeological research in the last few decades. This work proposes new ways of understanding and interpreting the first Islamic centuries in Syria-Palestine, based on clear and verifiable information gleaned from a range of archaeological discoveries.
1985 undertaken by the Joint University of Sydney and College of Wooster (Ohio) Excavations at Pella in Jordan.
This thesis attempts to deal with some of these shortcomings by investigating the administrative geography, routes and urban framework of the two Islamic provinces of the jund of Filastin and the jund of al-Urdunn during the first four centuries of Islamic history, that is during the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and early Fatimid periods (ca. 20-375/640-985). The material for this study comes from a number of varied sources, both literary and archaeological. Particular attention is paid to the Arabic written works of the 3rd/9th and 4th/10th centuries, especially those which deal with the historical, administrative and descriptive geography of the Islamic World. Archaeological research has produced further detailed information on the urban centres of Filastin and al-Urdunn and their administration. In particular a combination of Early Islamic numismatics and the Umayyad papyri documents from Nessana makes a valuable contribution to identifying the administrative structure of these two provinces under the Rashidun and Umayyad caliphates.
Updated version.
ISBN: 978-1-955918-06-0
Blanke, L. and Walmsley, A. G. (2022) 'Resilient cities: Renewal after disaster in three late antique towns of the East Mediterranean', in Martínez Jiménez, J. and Ottewill-Soulsby, S. (eds.) Remembering and forgetting the ancient city: Vol. 2 Impact of the Ancient City. Oxford: Oxbow, pp. 69-107.
The Arabic and Crusader written sources, archaeological results (what little exists) and, most critically, the activities of the Crusaders east of the Jordan Rift valley point to a sustained level of socio-economic activity in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. There were at least eight major population centres reliant on Jordan, supported by a vibrant rural sector, trade and commerce. The importance of trade, especially in the eleventh century, is demonstrated by the finds at Ayla (al-`Aqaba), but the benefits would have spread up the main communication routes. There is growing evidence, at Khirbat Faris and Dhiban for instance, that many sites with easily recognized Ayyubid and Mamluk occupation were also settled in Fatimid, Seljuq and perhaps Crusader times, the later material often disguising earlier evidence (a problem especially apparent in surveys). If so, the supposed `settlement gap' between the early Abbasid and Mamluk periods quickly disappears. Settlement levels were probably not significantly less than in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods.
and Jerusalem.
The nature of Umayyad habitation in the Civic Complex church (Area IX) is discussed by Smith in the next section of the chapter. Until the final abandonment of the church as a religious structure after the AD 717 earthquake, a series of structural repairs were undertaken, each of a progressively poorer quality. Then between AD 717 and the end of the Umayyad Period, the church was given over to occupation by herders and their animals.
The location and excavation of a Mamluk mosque and village in Areas XVII and XXIII respectively is described in some detail by Walmsley in the final part of the chapter. Attention is paid to the architecture of the mosque and in particular the similarities between it and other mosques in Jordan built about the same time. An interim study of Late Islamic pottery from Areas XVII and XXIII is also presented.
The site of Tabaqat Fahl (ancient Pella of the Decapolis) has been known to travellers, historians and archaeologists since early in the 19th century.2 Before the present undertaking, the site has twice been investigated in recent years: two small soundings by the American School of Oriental Research in 1958 and the initial season, in 1967, of a large—scale, long-term project by The College of Wooster under Dr. Robert H. Smith. The latter undertaking had scarcely begun when the Arab-Israeli war erupted in June of that year.
By 1978 conditions at Pella had long since returned to normal, and it was financially feasible for Wooster to return to the field at Pella. This time, however, the venture was to be a joint effort with The University of Sydney as a partner and the Department of Antiquities of Jordan as an active participant in the program. Because of escalating costs of field operations and the relative isolation of Tabaqat Fahl from major urban centers which required extensive preparations for accommodations at the site, it is doubtful if the excavation of so large a site as Pella could have been undertaken in any major way except with international cooperation of this kind.
By prior arrangement, certain areas at Pella were to be the responsibility of The University of Sydney and certain others the responsibility of The College of Wooster (Pl. 1). The Australian group would commence a stratigraphic probe on the eastern side of the mound and undertake the mapping and eventual excavation of an interesting complex of buildings that lay far up the hillside to the east of the city proper, as well as explore for tombs. Wooster’s areas of responsibility included the western side of the mound, where a stratigraphic excavation of major dimensions was needed, and a cluster of Roman-Byzantine ruins near the city’s spring. There was also the matter of tombs. Furthermore, it was desirable to carry out some limited archaeological investigations and perhaps restoration at the West Church, where Wooster had conducted excavations in 1967.
The first season of The Sydney-Wooster Joint Expedition to Pella took place during the early months of 1979. Because of differing academic calendars, a Sydney group under the direction of J. B. Hennessy and Anthony McNicoll conducted a session in January and February, and a Wooster team under the direction of Robert H. Smith carried out a session that began in mid March and extended through mid May. Excavation was under-taken on the eastern and western sides of the top of the central mound, at Roman-Byzantine architectural complexes near the springs and on the eastern slope overlooking the mound, in the West Church, and in the cemetery regions that lie east and south of the city (fig. 1). At the same time, related scientific investigations, including environmental studies, were begun at the site. The Joint Expedition is successor to The Wooster Expedition to Pella, which began field" work at Pella in the spring of 1967 but was interrupted by the Arab-Israeli war in June of that year. The new endeavor, under the auspices of The College of Wooster and The University of Sydney, is believed to be the first archaeological expedition in the Levant to be fully sponsored by academic institutions on different continents. One of the most important benefits of this cooperative undertaking was the fact that the high cost of field headquarters and excavation equipment could be shared. In order that maximal information should be obtained , it was agreed by the directors that the various areas where excavation was to be conducted be divided between the two sponsoring institutions. Provision was made for frequent consultation and sharing of information between the two groups, as well as for the joint preparation of all major archaeological reports arising from the work of the Expedition.
A successful season saw excavations continued and expanded in Areas III and IV (fig. l) on the main mound, where further important information was obtained on settlements of the Umayyad, Byzantine, Hellenistic and Iron Age periods. In Area V (fig. l), work continued on the excavation of the temple area several interesting tombs were dug high on the northern slopes of Tell Husn, Area XI (fig. l). The tombs belonged to the late Middle Bronze and early Late Bronze Ages and give promise of further rich rewards in the area. Miss Linda Villiers, a member of the team, conducted an intensive surface survey on the hills a kilometre to the north-east of the main mound and has produced evidence of lower Palaeolithic occupation.
The third session of the University of Sydney Expedition took place between 16 December, 1980 and 23 February, 1981, with a staff totalling thirty-three' and a locally hired work force numbering up to 105. As usual the dig was greatly aided by the co-operation and active assistance of the Director-General of the Department of Antiquities, Dr. Adnan Hadidi and members of his staff, particularly • Mr. Brian Bowen who is in charge of architectural conservation of the site. The principal financial support for the excavations came again from the Australian Research Grants Committee, the Australian National Gallery, Canberra and the University of Sydney. Other contributions were received from The University of Queensland (St. Lucia), The University of New England (Armidale) and The Australian Institute of Archaeology (Melbourne).
Excavations took place in Areas III, IV, V and VI, and a preliminary geological study of the district was carried out by Phil Macumber. Further ceramic studies were undertaken by Ian Edwards. In the present report some of the excavated finds of the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Byzantine periods are outlined briefly, while the Early Islamic material is discussed in greater detail by Alan Walmsley.
May 19, was carried out by a staff under the auspices of The College of Wooster. In 1981 excavations and related archaeological activities were carried out by the Wooster-directed team in four of these areas, two of which (VIII and IX) had been opened in 1979 and two of which (XIII and XIV) were new. Excavations by the University of Sydney in the third season included work in Areas 111, IV, V, and VI, all of which had been started in previous seasons.
Authors: Smith, Robert H.; McNicoll, Anthony W.; Hennessy, J. B.; Potts, Timothy; Walmsley, A.; Wightman, Greg; Shraideh, Sultan; Darwish, M.; Cannon, B.; Lenzen, C.; Day, L.; Martin, D.; Hanbury-Tenison, J.
investigated after an hiatus of some seasons. A major new area containing a late mosque, was opened up in the centre
of the main mound as Area XVII.
The report will deal with the season's
results in chronological orde r.
Phillip C. Edwards,
Stephen J. Bourke,
Kate Da Costa,
John Tidmarsh,
Alan G. Walmsley,
Pamela M. Watson
The tenth year of operations by the University of Sydney at Pella was marked by a doubling in length of the customary field season. Two seven-week sessions of field investigations were conducted; the first running from January 2 to February 18, 1988, and the second from February 26 to April 15, 1988.
For the first time excavations were carried out on the summit of Tell el-Husn. Primarily aimed at investigating occupation of this naturally defensible fortress in the Byzantine period, the excavations revealed surprisingly deep deposits of, inter alia, Byzantine period occupation. In the centre of Khirbet Fahl, surface sherds had indicated the existence of
Mamluk/Early Ottoman settlement in the vicinity of a large trench (Area XXIII) originally opened by Funk and Richardson in the 1950s, and since continued by the University of Sydney. Accordingly, two plots (XXIIID and E) flanking the original plot XXIIIA were opened.
The clearest example of an operating household at the time of a massive earthquake in 749 CE is a large and wealthy unit known as 'Household G'. With a floor area of some 375 sq. m., and living space over two levels of nearly 750 sq. m. (and perhaps more, if roof space was also accessed), House G was organised around a paved internal courtyard of 8.35 x 9.7 m, which once featured a veranda some three metres deep.
* How dark "Dark Age" Jordan? The Tenth and Eleventh Centuries
* Strategies for Reinterpreting a "Dark Age" in Jordan's History
even just a few decades ago getting from one place to another took time and, most importantly, no little know ledge of road networks and how the transport system worked. At what time of the year to travel, and by what means, were crucial issues with major economic and safety ramifications. Hence, an understanding of roads, ways of travel and travel times needed to journey from one place to another in antiquity are essential components in assessing the political, cultural and economic history of any age. This paper reviews and evaluates documentary and archaeological material detailing the major routes that crossed Jordan, the manner in which they were transversed, and the time required to
travel over them in late antiquity and early Islamic times. In that post-Roman world, roadways took on new meaning as the needs of a Mediterranean empire gave way to wider, and more self-defining,
social and economic requirements.
Although research into resources and their exploitation has the potential of offering much valuable information on questions of social and economic change in the Byzantine - Islamic transition, these themes have received scant attention. While acknowledging the limits of available data, a preliminary study is now possible on the natural resource base of Jordan and its exploitation in the earlier Islamic periods (c. seventh - 11th century AD). The evidence comes from two major but disparate sources: textual (literary) works in Arabic and archaeological results.
study has yet been offered which focuses on the artistic and technological evolution of pottery in Jordan during the first four centuries of Islam. Particular attention will be paid to matters of continuity and change as a reflection of modifications to the social and economic structure of Jordan in the early middle ages.
Deep seated misconceptions surround the first appearance and duration of ICW and persist until this day. A recent report on excavations at Caesarea Maritima offers a classic example of a compounding error: equating specific ICW with the last decades of the Umayyad period (roughly, second quarter of the eight century). This basic error of archaeological analysis has had a profoundly negative impact on the writing of a social (especially urban) history of the early Islamic period.
This paper reviews the suggested dating of ICW at a number of well known sites and poses the question: are there any securely dated sites with ICW in Umayyad levels? Furthermore, if the identifiably Islamic cream wares are strictly Abbasid/Fatimid, what are the social implications of their appearance in Jordan?
From the outset, the author and colleagues effectively locate their work in the archaeological mainstream by creating perceptive and convincing insights into both the everyday and the exceptional life events at Quseir al-Qadim.
0884022145·[Book review]
(Byzantine Arindela) in the Tafilah District was undertaken between 16 May and 9 July 1998. The season comprised seven weeks of excavations and survey work in and around Gharandal, and a subsequent week of post-excavation work in the field and the dig house. A team of twelve undertook the work.
Recognising the long-standing and cordial relations between the University of Sydney and the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, this year’s Eighth International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan is being promoted as a major event in the Sesquicentenary program. The Conference is truly international in scope, with around 90 presentations and 125 participants from 15 countries. Papers will be presented over five days in two or three parallel sessions. The objective of this year’s meeting is to evaluate the contribution of historical and archaeological studies to our understanding of social, cultural and economic developments in Jordan and neighbouring countries from prehistoric times to the Ottoman period. A central theme is “pre-modern identities”, by which is meant the way community groups defined and projected themselves, intentionally or otherwise, and the way they interacted with others.