This book is a first presentation of pottery samples from el-Bālū‛ in the northern Ard el-Kerak, the ancient Moabitis which today is Central Jordan. The forms presented here are dating from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age down to the Persian periods of occupation of the site of el-Bālū‛. The book does not discuss the pottery in the wider context of Jordanian or Palestinian ceramics; however, the intention was to present pottery from the hitherto only sparsely published Iron Age pottery of the region. With this documentation scholars of the Archaeology of Jordan are invited to work on the ceramics excavated in the Areas A, B, C, D, E, and G of el-Bālū‛.

Udo Worschech studied Old Testament Studies and Biblical Archaeology at Canadian Union College in Lacombe, Alberta and at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan (USA), followed by doctoral studies at the University of Frankfurt (Germany). He holds assignments at the University of Frankfurt and is Director of excavations in Central Jordan (ancient Moab). He has done excavations at Tell Hesbon (Jordan), Tell Masos (Israel, Negev) and at el-Bālū .