Khirbat en-Nahas, Area M

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This 3D model captures a pivotal moment in the archaeological excavation of a slag mound at Khirbat en-Nahas, an ancient copper smelting site in Faynan, Jordan. Slag, the unwanted by-product of metal production, was frequently discarded on the outskirts of such sites in antiquity. Excavated in 2002 and 2006 by the Edom Lowlands Regional Archaeology Project, led by Thomas E. Levy and Mohammad Najjar, this slag mound is dated to the Iron Age, around 1200-800 BCE. Radiocarbon analysis confirms that it dates back to this era. The slag provides a unique record of copper production during that time period and remains under close scrutiny for further archaeological study. Further Reading Ben-Yosef E, et al. (2019) Ancient technology and punctuated change: Detecting the emergence of the Edomite Kingdom in the Southern Levant. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0221967. Levy TE, et al. (2008) High-precision radiocarbon dating and historical biblical archaeology in southern Jordan. PNAS 105(43): 16460-16465.