October 4, 2008, 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Open to the Public – FREE

Archaeology Day at Mission San José

Roosevelt Avenue and New Napier Road

Lectures at 10:30, 12:30, & 2:30 Demonstrations of surveying methods, flint knapping, and atlatl- throwing Kids Take-Home Activities including frescos, corn-husk dolls, mask-making, and more! Come visit the AIA-SWTAS booth in back of mission, near mill. Volunteers needed!

Contact Laura Childs, 210-494-3820, Laura.Childs@lackland.af.mil

For more information, call 932-1001; see NPS link http://www.nps.gov/saan

Sponsors: National Park Service, UTSA-Center for Archaeological Research, AIA-South West Texas Archeological Society, Southwestern Texas Archeology Association, Western National Parks Association

Tuesday October 7

S. Thomas Parker (North Carolina State University)

"Projecting Power on the Periphery: Rome's Arabian Frontier East of the Dead Sea"

Rome's Arabian Frontier, now mostly within modern Jordan, was long one of the least known frontiers of the Roman Empire. But archaeological research over the last few decades has enormously expanded our knowledge about this frontier. A regional archaeological project extending over a decade and directed by the speaker focused on the sector of the frontier east of the Dead Sea in central Jordan. The project excavated five Roman military sites and conducted a regional survey that recorded over 500 archaeological sites. The evidence revealed that this military frontier had been heavily fortified at the turn of the 4th century, apparently in response to increasing pressure from nomadic Arab tribes. The frontier remained heavily fortified until the early 6th century, when most of these forts were abandoned. This proved catastrophic for the empire, as it paved the way for the success of the Muslim Arab invasion early in the next century.

One key site was Lejjun, a roman legionary fortress. Most excavated legionary fortresses were erected during the Principate (30 B.C.-A.D. 284) and thus we know a lot about the legions in this period. Lejjun, built for the IV Mars Legion ca. 300, is a rare example of a late legionary fortress erected on a virgin site. It this offers a unique opportunity to answer many questions about late Roman legions, such as their size, internal organization, equipment, diet and religion. Excavation uncovered portions of the fortifications, headquarters, barracks, a church and other structures. The project's final report was published in 2006.

This recent research on the Arabian frontier has engendered a vigorous scholarly debate about the frontier. One view is that the frontier was a zone of conflict between a sedentary agricultural population under Roman protection versus nomadic Arab tribes of the adjacent desert who periodically raided the settled areas. However, other scholars offer alternative interpretations suggesting that the principal security threat was internal, not external. The speaker critiques these views and concludes that an external security threat is the most persuasive interpretation.

Professor S. Thomas Parker received his Ph.D. in history in 1979 from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has been a professor of history at North Carolina State University since 1980. He has seved on various archaeological expeditions in the Middle East since 1971. From 1979-1989 he directed the Limes Arabicus Project, which investigated the Roman frontier east of the Dead Sea. Since 1994 he has directed the Roman Aqaba Project, the excavation of a Roman port on the Red Sea in southern Jordan. Professor Parker specializes in history and archaeology of the Roman Empire, Roman army and frontiers, Roman Arabia, and Roman pottery and economy.

For more information: http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/

Thursday October 23

Laurie Rush (Department of Defense)

"Dealing the Heritage Hand: Archaeological Training for U.S. Military Personnel"