Back to the fort today for more work from this fantastic elevated position. Of all the GARP sites this one ranks as the one with the most beautiful and astonishing views of the geology of Southern Jordan. The fort sits at around 1170 metres above sea level, and about 500 metres above the valley floor below. The geology is principally volcanic, with great igneous flows having been broken up over centuries by alternate heat and frost.
Most of the sites we are working are characterised by this hard, sharp basalt of hugely varying size, either embedded in a solid sand top surface or mixed in with blown sand in ridges and on the sides of hills and promontories. Many of the features we are looking at have sand blown into them which has to be removed before the more delicate excavation can begin. Some surfaces are hard and the trowelling is difficult, but often finds are on or near the surface, which means they can be found 'eyes only', without the need for metal detecting or sieving of removed material. Some of the images today show this landscape and its surface to give readers an idea of the terrain and nature of the digging and investigation.
The work at the fort continued today with all members of the party going to the site initially and then a couple of teams departing to do some exploratory work at other sites.
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