The eastern frontier of the Roman Empire – its network of roads, trade routes, towns and forts – is often conceived of as an “edge” of both empire and civilisation, but this “borderland” is also part of a rich cultural landscape. Our awareness and appreciation of these cultures has increased dramatically over the course of the last century. Scholarship has deepened, methods have advanced, and perspectives have shifted.

Across 20 chapters, Reframing the “Desert Frontier” offers new insights into the rich cultural history of this region through the re-examination of existing material – such as archives, historical accounts, and previous surveys – and through the use of novel archaeological approaches. The bringing together of different methodological approaches to the archaeology of the region in a single volume highlights synergies and offers important comparisons for archaeologists to consider.

This volume highlights the work of Emeritus Professor David Kennedy, whose contribution to the study of the Roman army, the archaeology of Jordan, and aerial archaeology has inspired and enhanced multiple projects that have reframed this so-called “desert frontier”.

Reframing the “Desert Frontier” encapsulates the enriched view of this ancient region generated by new techniques of survey and analysis, changed perspectives on older materials, a more intense engagement with the rural landscapes surrounding ancient towns, and the addition of new discoveries that alter previous consensus.

Dr Rebecca Repper is a research associate working with archaeological and cultural heritage collections at the University of Western Australia. She has previously worked with the Aerial Archaeology in Jordan project, the Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East, Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa, and Aerial Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia projects. Dr Mike Bishop is a freelance writer, publisher, and archaeologist, and has worked in legacy post-excavation, commercial field archaeology, archaeological publishing and research. He is a specialist in the Roman army, and founding editor of the Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies. Dr Robert Bewley is a prehistorian, an aerial archaeologist, and former Director of the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa project (2015–2020) University of Oxford. He is Director of the Aerial Archaeology project in Jordan and the Aerial Archaeology in Oman project, and manages the Aerial Photographic Archive of Archaeology in the Middle East.