METAL JEWELRY FROM BURIALS AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN RURAL JORDAN IN LATE ANTIQUITY

Abstract

Metal jewelry is frequently found in tombs in Jordan dating to Late Antiquity and ar-
chaeological data provides a general view of economic prosperity in the region during
this period. Metal artifacts recovered from mortuary contexts have long been used by ar-
chaeologists as evidence of wealth and socioeconomic status. This paper combines mate-
rials analysis with material culture theory to examine the use of metal jewelry in the ex-
pression and negotiation of economic status in mortuary contexts in Late Antique Jordan.
We contextualize this material within both local and regional social and economic condi-
tions to demonstrate the importance of color in analyzing the choices made by both pro-
ducers and consumers of metal jewelry.