With the explosion of new material emerging from a branch of archaeology that focuses specifically on Islamic periods and Islamic lands since the 1980s, it is most pertinent to consider its origin, its development, and its potential in reconstructing and interpreting past ways of life.1 Islam has been a literate culture since its inception; thus, academic inquiry has focused on written texts.2 While documentary evidence provides a wealth of information on many aspects of life, material derived from archaeology can supplement and contextualize the written record. The material record can serve as an independent arbitrator, separate from historical sources, which were often written with an agenda.3 While the interpretation of the material evidence may be disputed, the data cannot be denied, as it offers a first-hand record of what had existed.
