No description available.

In the Middle East and in many majority Muslim nations, homosexuality, including homosexual acts, identities, desires, and discussions of those, is considered taboo. Utilizing a feminist theoretical orientation, this project examined the ways in which same-sex desiring women in Amman, Jordan view the concept of sexually desiring and its relationship to identities. It also examined the pressures placed on them to abide by and navigate familial and religious expectations that conflict with their sexuality. This project drew upon 15 interviews from Muslim and Christian women in Amman using semi-structured and unstructured interviews and participant observation. After analysis, it was concluded that the majority of informants believe in innate sexual desires and sexuality and that all people sexually desire in similar ways. It was also concluded that informants face more pressure from family than from religion, and therefore, find it easier to balance religious obligations than familial obligations with their sexuality.

Künstliche Terrassen sind künstlich konstruierte Trockenmauern, die Hänge in Ebenen unterteilen. Petra im Süden Jordaniens gehört zu einer trockenen Klimazone, die sich durch unwegsames Gelände und eine mit Terrassen durchsetzte Landschaft auszeichnet. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse wurden vom Autor im Rahmen einer multidisziplinären Studie gesammelt, die aus Vermessungen, Erkundungsgrabungen, geophysikalischen Prospektionen, Untersuchungen der Bodentextur sowie chemischen Analysen, optisch stimulierender Lumineszenzdatierung (OSL), Radiokohlenstoffdatierung (14C), Phytolithanalysen und geografischen Analysen zur Untersuchung der Terrassen in einem Gebiet von etwa 391 km2 bestand. Die vorliegende Studie zeigt, dass die künstlichen Terrassen in Trockengebieten für eine Vielzahl von Funktionen konzipiert und genutzt wurden. Die Terrassen dienten somit der Rückhaltung, Sammlung und Verteilung von Boden und Wasser und verhinderten, dass Wasser unkontrolliert abfließt und Erde weggespült wird. Das trockene Klima, das raue Gelände und die für dieses Gebiet charakteristischen Überschwemmungen machten diese Eingriffe in die Natur notwendig. Neben diesen beiden Hauptaufgaben konnten die Terrassen der Nabatäer noch andere Funktionen erfüllen. Neben der landwirtschaftlichen Nutzung der Terrassen nutzten die Nabatäer sie auch zum Schutz ihrer Infrastruktur wie Straßen und hydrologische Einrichtungen. Ein Aspekt, der in der Forschung noch nicht diskutiert wurde. All dies deutet darauf hin, dass die Nabatäer die Gegend sehr gut kannten und gezielt den Bau einer bestimmten Art von Terrasse nutzten. Basierend auf verschiedenen Datierungstechniken begann der Bau der Terrassen in Petra um 350-320 v. Chr. Drei zeitliche Höhepunkte in der Bauausweitung lassen sich unterscheiden: um das 1. Jahrhundert n. Chr., um das 6. bis 7. Jahrhundert n. Chr. und um das 12. Jahrhundert n. Chr. / Man-made terraces are often-overlooked feature in the landscapes of southern Jordan, especially around Petra. These features are artificial constructions dry walls that create flat surfaces on slopes (Spencer, J. and Hale, G. 1961: 3; Treacy, J. and Denevan, W. 1994: 93; Kvapil, L. 2013: 6612). These terraces are usually attributed to have agricultural functions, which is only partially true. This study shows that terraces constructed in arid areas have been designed and used for a wide set of functions that go beyond their agrarian aspects. Petra, located in the south of Jordan, falls within an arid climatic zone, is of rough terrain, and has a landscape dotted with terraces. A multidisciplinary study was conducted by the author which included survey, sounding excavations, geophysical prospecting, soil texture and chemical analysis, Optical Stimulating Luminescence (OSL), radiocarbon dating (14C), phytolith analysis and spatial analysis for studying the terraces. Two major functions were assigned to the constructed terraces: hydrological (water) and pedogenic (soil). Applied to prevent, retain, collect and distribute soil and water. Nabataeans managed to apply terraces to a wide range of fields such as: agriculture, infrastructure such as roads and hydrological installations, an aspect never discussed before. The study concluded, based on OSL, pottery sherds and 14C dates, terrace construction in Petra started around 350-320 B.C.E. at the upper catchment areas, probably for flood water mitigation. Three peaks in the construction expansion can be grouped: around the 1st century A.D, around 6th -7th century and around 12th century, which correspond to more humid climatic conditions and stability in the political situation.

To a large degree, historical analyses of the Levantine region tend to focus primarily upon martial interaction and state formation. However, perhaps of equitable impact is the chronology of those interactions which are cultural in nature. The long-term formative effect of cultural imperialism and cultural bleed can easily be as influential as the direct alterations imposed by martial invasion. While this study does not attempt to establish comparative causal weight or catalytic impact between these types of interactions, it does contend that the cultural evolution of the Levant has been significantly influenced by external interaction for a period of time extending beyond the Levantine Islamic Expansion. This study presents a chronological examination of the region from the pre-Expansion Period through the Mandate Period, focused upon relevant cultural structures. Specifically, emphasis is placed upon religious, ethnic, and nationalistic identity development, sociolinguistic shifts, and institutional changes within the societal structure. The primary conclusion of this study is that significant evidence exists to support a long-term historical narrative of externally influenced Levantine cultural evolution, inclusive of both adaptive and reactive interactions.

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No description available.

This thesis is a demographic analysis of Late Bronze Age Canaan (ca. 1550/1500-1200/1150 BCE), undertaken through the use of archaeological and anthropological data. The purpose is to establish estimates for the settlement population, nomadic population, nuclear family size, house size, sex ratio, and life expectancy of the people of Canaan during the Late Bronze Age. Previous studies have not addressed these issues in detail, nor had data from the entire scope of Canaan been considered, nor had a precise methodology been developed or used for estimating specific settlement populations and nomadic populations for Canaan during the Late Bronze Age. Thus, additional aspects of the thesis include the development and use of a new methodology for estimating ancient populations and a database of all of the Late Bronze Age sites in Canaan—both archaeological and textual. To accomplish these goals, the thesis uses archaeological data from excavations and surveys, texts from the Late Bronze Age, human skeletal remains from Late Bronze Age burials, demographic and ethnographic studies of various types of nomads, and methods, techniques, and observations from previous relevant studies. The primary objectives are to 1) obtain individual settlement, nomadic, and total population estimates for Canaan in the Late Bronze Age that are as accurate as possible based on the currently available data, along with additional demographic estimates of life expectancy and sex ratio, 2) propose a new methodology for estimating settlement populations in the ancient world, 3) present a catalogue and map of all of the sites in Canaan that were inhabited during the Late Bronze Age, 4) illuminate demographic trends during the Late Bronze Age in Canaan. The implications of the results may lead to a modified demographic view of Canaan and its sub-regions during the Late Bronze Age. / Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Archaeology)

Les différentes lithologies sédimentaires du Groupe Belqa présentent un enrichissement en P et en toute une série d'éléments sensibles aux conditions redox. Il est montré que l'enrichissement en U, Cu, Co, Mo, V résulte d'un dépôt syn-sédimentaire sous conditions suboxiques. Par contre, les éléments Cr, Ni, Cd, Zn sont beaucoup plus enrichis et requierent un flux exogénique de métal probablement relié à l'altération de roches ultrabasiques obductées à la même période au nord de cette région, lors de la collision de la plaque arabo-africaine avec la plaque eurasienne. Les phosphates représentent le principal hôte de l'uranium et des terres rares. L'analyse des apatites par ablation laser ICP-MS a permis de montrer leur évolution, depuis le stade sédimentaire-diagénétique, puis pyrométamorphique, jusqu'à l'altération supergène. La libération de l'uranium de la structure de l'apatite lors du pyrométamorphisme et de l'altération supergène permet sa mise à disposition pour la formation de minéralisations. Le pyrométamorphisme, dû à une combustion des niveaux riches en matière organique, est responsable de la déstabilisation des apatites, et de la formation de roches de compositions semblables à des ciments clinker/Portland. L'uranium a également été libéré de la structure de l'apatite par altération supergène. L'altération météorique et les fluides évaporitiques ont permis le lessivage et le transport des éléments (U, V) des roches carbonatées métamorphiques, et des carbonates puis a conduit au dépôt des vanadates d'uranyles dans les carbonates pulvérulents ayant subi une dissolution importante / The different lithologies of the Belqa Group present an enrichment in P and various redox sensitive elements. The U, Cu, Co, Mo, V enrichment results from synsedimentary deposition in suboxic conditions. However, the higher Cr, Ni, Cd, Zn enrichment requires an exogenic metal flux probably related to the terrestrial leaching of ultrabasic rocks obducted during the collision between African-Arabian and Eurasian plates to the north of the study region, at the same time. Phosphates are the main host lithology for uranium and rare earth elements. The analysis of the apatites by laser ablation ICP-MS shows their evolution along the sedimentary-diagenetic and pyrometamorphic stages, up to the supergene weathering. The uranium liberation from the apatite structure during the pyrometamorphism and surficial weathering led to its availability as supergene ore mineralization. Pyrometamorphism resulted from the combustion of organic-rich layers and caused the destabilization of the apatites, and the formation of rocks which have compositions similar to clinker/Portland cements. Uranium has been also released from the structure of the apatite by supergene alteration. Meteoric weathering and the evaporitic groundwater resulted in the leaching and the transport of the elements (U, V) from the metamorphic carbonated hills, and from the surrounding permeable limestone which has undergone dissolution in the near surface zone

Wasser ist eine der wichtigsten Ressourcen. Jedoch schätzt man, dass sich das globale Wasserdefizit schon im Jahr 2030 auf ca. 40 Prozent belaufen wird. Klimawandel, veränderte Lebensweisen, und Bevölkerungswachstum verstärken das Nachfrage-Angebot-Defizit. Als Konsequenz leiden immer mehr Regionen unter Wasserknappheit. Eine reduzierte Wassernachfrage bedingt durch verstärktes Wassersparen kann das Problem verringern. Das Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es daher, zu einem besseren Verständnis der sozio-demographischen und psychologischen Determinanten von Wassersparverhalten beizutragen. Basierend auf drei Datensätzen aus Deutschland und Jordanien wurden die verschiedenen Facetten von Wassersparverhalten und deren Determinanten beleuchtet. Das Verhältnis zwischen Wassersparen und Umwelteinstellung, einem latenten Konstrukt, das kooperative, prosoziale und sogar moralische Tendenzen widerspiegelt, wurde konzeptionell untersucht. Zusätzlich wurde Wassersparen in Deutschland als ein Repräsentant für moralisches Verhalten verwendet. In diesem Zusammenhang wurden Umwelteinstellung und der Persönlichkeitsfaktor Ehrlichkeit-Bescheidenheit auf ihr Vermögen hin verglichen, moralisches Verhalten vorherzusehen. Eine ausführliche Analyse zur Bewertung einer Kampagne zur Förderung des Wassersparbewusstseins hat detaillierte Informationen zu ihren tatsächlichen Effekten gezeigt. Eine weitere Analyse hat sich auf die Determinanten von Wassersparverhalten in Jordanien konzentriert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Wassersparverhalten nicht durch Alter, Bildungsgrad und Einkommen beeinflusst wird, sondern eher durch die Ausprägung der Umwelteinstellung. Diese Dissertation liefert wertvolle Informationen für Forscher und Politiker. Die detaillierte Untersuchung von verschiedenen Wasserspardeterminanten birgt großes Potenzial für ein verbessertes Wassermanagement. / Water is one of the most important resources. However, the global water deficit was estimated to reach about 40% by 2030. Climate change, changing lifestyles, and population growth increase the supply and demand gap further. As a consequence, more and more regions experience water scarcity. In that context, reduced household water demand due to enhanced water conservation could alleviate the problem or, at least, reduce the pressure on water resources. Thus, this thesis aims to contribute to a better understanding of the socio-demographic and psychological determinants of water conservation behavior. Based on three distinct datasets from Germany and Jordan, the manifold facets of water conservation and its determinants were examined. From a conceptual perspective, the relationship between water conservation and environmental attitude, a latent construct representing cooperative, prosocial, and even moral tendencies, were investigated. Furthermore, water conservation in Germany was used as a proxy for moral behavior. In that respect, environmental attitude and the personality factor Honesty-Humility were compared in order to determine, which factor constitutes the better predictor of moral behavior. Using original data from Jordan, a comprehensive impact evaluation of a water conservation awareness campaign revealed detailed information on its actual effects. Another analysis focused on a wide variety of water conservation determinants in Jordan. The results indicate that water conservation does not differ with respect to age, education, and income, but rather with different levels of environmental attitude. This thesis provides valuable information for researchers and policy makers alike. The detailed examination of various water conservation determinants offer a great potential for an improved management of household water demand.

The Ghost Water exhibition of artworks by Michael Sharp was comprised of four main works titled: 30 x 60 Minute Grid Series, Suspension, History/Prehistory, and Lake Bonneville Remnants. The artwork was created as a reaction to the land that once held the prehistoric Lake Bonneville and to its current remnant Great Salt Lake. The work explores the dialogue between absence and presence.