The American Center of Research

30/04/2026

Announcing the awardees of The Amman Prize!

Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2026–2027 Amman Prize! Thanks to the generosity of ACOR's donors and trustees, we were able to offer four awards of four months each, two to ABD doctoral candidates and two to postgraduate applicants. We expect these sixteen total months of funding to lead to groundbreaking scholarship and research and look forward to sharing the results with you.

Dr. Alexis Dolphin (postgraduate awardee), Associate Professor and Director of the Ancient and Contemporary Environmental Bioindicators Laboratory, University of Waterloo, Anthropology: "Synthesis of Bioarchaeological Insights on Life at Wadi Faynan 100"

Mr. Rami Khouri (postgraduate awardee), Distinguished Fellow, American University of Beirut and Arab Center Washington: "Jordan’s Ancient Monuments and Cultures: A Guide for Scholars and Visitors"

Ms. Nour Ammari (ABD doctoral awardee), PhD candidate, New York University, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World: "Arabic-Inscribed Oil Lamps from Northern Jordan: Everyday Religion and Craft Production in the Byzantine-Islamic Transition"

Mr. Jordan Weitzel (ABD doctoral awardee), PhD candidate, University of California, Berkeley, Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: "Water Use at an Iron Age Capital in a Semi-Arid Zone: Investigating Water Installations and a Unique Ceramic Assemblage from Busayra"

30/04/2026

While the earliest archaeological evidence at the site of Jerash dates to the Neolithic, the city is today best known for the exceptional preservation of its Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine remains. During that time, the city of Jerash was known as Gerasa, and it was a part of the Decapolis, a group of ten important cities in the eastern Mediterranean. This image shows a school group visiting the site in 1988, reminding of us the importance of educating children about their collective cultural heritage. Such well-preserved sites allow an immersive experience and the opportunity for visitors of all ages to imagine what it would have been like to live in the ancient city.

Image from the Linda L. Layne collection. Visit the collection: https://archives.acorjordan.org/s/acor/item-set/33

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

New book in the ACOR Library: _Tel Dover (Khirbet ed Duweir) on the Yarmuk River: The Late Bronze and Iron Age Levels_ by Amir Golani and Samuel R. Wolff (Ägypten und Altes Testament Band 130; Zaphon, 2025)

From the publisher: “Tel Dover (Kh. ed-Duweir) is strategically located at the southern tip of the Golan Heights, on the northwest bank of the Yarmuk River, northeast of its confluence with the Jordan River. From July to September 1997, large-scale rescue excavations were conducted at Tel Dover prior to the planned construction of a dam and water reservoir on the Yarmuk River. This volume focuses on the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Stratigraphy and architecture are discussed in detail and richly illustrated (Chapter 2). The following chapters present ceramic assemblages (Chapter 3) and small finds (Chapters 4–7), as well as remains of funerary offerings and dog burials (Chapter 8). The study is supplemented by appendices on shells, human skeletal remains, and petrographic analyses of Iron Age vessels.” (Image created using Nano Banana Pro by Google Gemini.)

23/04/2026

Another well-preserved desert castle (see our post of April 19, 2026, about Qsar al-Azraq) is Qasr al‑Kharanah. Qsar al-Kharanah is one of the best‑known castles in eastern Jordan, located about 60 km east of Amman. Evidence from an inscription on one of the walls indicates that it must have been built before 710 CE; it is thus considered one of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture in the region. The castle is valuable for illuminating the cultural and political history of the Umayyad period. This image shows the interior courtyard of the castle, where many activities of daily life would have taken place, such as cooking, housework, or agricultural work.

Photo from the Barbara A. Porter collection. Visit the collection: https://archives.acorjordan.org/s/acor/item-set/27

22/04/2026

We are pleased to announce that Sarah Wenner, assistant professor at ACOR, has received a 2026 Steinmetz Grant from the Archaeological Institute of America. The AIA's Steinmetz Endowment "supports the use of technology in archaeological research by providing grants to archaeological projects that make innovative use of technological tools and methods." Prof. Wenner's project will train Jordanian students to use a laser-aided profiler (LAP) to increase the speed of documenting ceramics. This work is part of ACOR's summer 2026 ceramics courses, which she is teaching.

Read more: https://www.archaeological.org/2026-steinmetz-grant-spotlight-sarah-wenner/

21/04/2026

New book in the ACOR Library: _Khirbet al-Khalde: Final Publications from the Khirbet al-Khalde Archaeological Project 2023_ edited by Craig A. Harvey, Emanuele Ettore Intagliata, and Rubina Raja (Brepols, 2025)

From the publisher: “The trade networks that covered the broad expanse of north-western Arabia and the Negev Desert have long been known from historical sources, but in recent years, archaeological investigations in the region have begun to reshape our perception of what ancient trade looked like in this arid region. In particular, the modern application of advanced techniques, together with a greater focus on the numerous smaller sites that dotted these routes, have led to a far more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of trade in this borderland region.
This volume focuses in particular on survey work undertaken at the site of Khirbet al-Khalde, ancient Praesidium, a fortlet and possible caravanserai in southern Jordan, located along the Via Nova Traiana. The survey, which included surface collection, mapping, and assessment of damage done to the site over time, has yielded new insights into the character and chronology of the site. The chapters gathered here include a comprehensive report of this survey project, together with a reassessment of the find groups, giving new insights into the chronology and dynamics both of this small but important site, and of the role it played along a major route connecting the Red Sea with the Near East.” (Image created using Nano Banana Pro by Google Gemini.)

20/04/2026

The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), Global Digital Heritage (GDH), and the American Center of Research (ACOR) signed last week a Memorandum of Understanding at the PDTRA offices in Wadi Musa, establishing a formal partnership centered on the digital documentation of Petra Archaeological Park and its environs.

The ceremony was held in the presence of PDTRA Chief Commissioner Adnan Al Sawair, with the agreement signed by Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner for Petra Archaeological Park and Tourism; Pearce Paul Creasman, Executive Director of ACOR; and Matthew Vincent, Scientific Director with GDH. The MOU formalizes a collaboration that has already seen GDH complete multiple periods of fieldwork at the site, signaling a strong collective commitment to the long-term digital preservation of this world heritage landmark.

For more visit gdh.org

Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority
The American Center of Research

19/04/2026

Located near the Azraq Oasis, Qasr al‑Azraq is one of a string of desert castles in eastern Jordan. This one was built from black basalt, the stone available locally. The original structure on this site, constructed by the Romans, likely dated to ca. 300 CE. In the 13th century CE, renovation and reconstruction by the Ayyubid dynasty brought it closer to the appearance seen in this photo. Besides its impressive architecture and deep history, the castle draws visitors because T. E. Lawrence (popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia) headquartered here in 1917–1918.

Photo from the Barbara A. Porter collection. Visit the collection: https://archives.acorjordan.org/s/acor/item-set/27

16/04/2026

Tell al-Mazar is an archaeological site in the central Jordan Valley that was occupied during the Late Bronze Age. It is likely that the long-term importance of the site stemmed from its position at a four-directional crossroads, both north-south and east-west. Many layers of occupation have accumulated into a tell, seen in this image with a view to the north taken in 1977. Explorations of the tell help scientists understand how people lived and worked in ancient times.

Photo from the Barbara A. Porter collection. Visit the collection: https://archives.acorjordan.org/s/acor/item-set/27

15/04/2026

The sentiment is mutual, Czech Embassy in Amman.

Pleasure meeting Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, Director of the American Center of Research . Productive discussion on research collaboration, cultural heritage preservation, and development cooperation opportunities. Looking forward to strengthening our partnership!🤝🏛️📚

15/04/2026

In January 2026, the American Center of Research (ACOR), in coordination with the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (DoA), hosted the first phase of the Training of Trainers (ToT I) program, bringing together 25 officers from Jordan’s Public Security Directorate (PSD) in a significant step toward strengthening national efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage.

This specialized training was distinguished by the participation of key national stakeholders, including the Attorney General of the Central Region in Jordan, representatives from the legal unit and illicit trafficking directorate of the Department of Antiquities, and officers from Jordan Customs. ACOR’s expert staff also played a central role in delivering the training, contributing their technical and academic expertise.

The program took a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. It began with an introduction to cultural heritage and archaeology, ensuring that participants developed a solid foundation in the value and significance of cultural material. Trainees also learned about Jordanian and international legal frameworks related to cultural heritage protection, alongside PSD regulations that govern these issues. A strong practical component focused on preparing legal and technical reports, proper documentation procedures, and improving coordination procedures among the PSD, Department of Antiquities, and Jordan Customs. Participants examined ways to further develop and enhance these processes for the greatest efficiency.

In addition, the training explored trafficking patterns in Jordan and the wider region, including mapping routes and understanding market dynamics. Sessions highlighted the role of international organizations such as UNESCO and INTERPOL, as well as the importance of Jordan’s National Inventory and international systems in tracking and protecting cultural property.

By equipping officers with both theoretical knowledge and practical tools, this training marks an important milestone in building a sustainable and collaborative framework for heritage protection in Jordan. The trained officers are now well positioned to transfer this knowledge within their department, ensuring a broader and lasting impact. A few have been selected to take part in phase II of the Training of Trainers (ToT II) program, which will further prepare them as instructors of their fellow PSD staff and others.

This training was undertaken courtesy of a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Amman and the U.S. State Department’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation: Preservation and Protection of the Holy Land at Herod’s Ain az-Zara Palace and Port to Mukawir.

(This post was written with the aid of ChatGPT.)

(Image: Slide from “The Legal Framework for Dealing with Antiquities in Jordan,” one of the presentations given during the training.)