Highlights

Mount Royal students dig Jordan

Mount Royal students have a unique opportunity to experience history by taking part in a significant archaeological dig in Jordan now that Mount Royal has joined a consortium of American and Canadian post-secondary institutions involved in the Madaba Plains Project.

The connection began with Dr. Julie Cormack, who teaches anthropology and archaeology in Behavioural Sciences and is a field supervisor and lithics (stone tool) specialist for the project. International Education is providing the funds through the Internationalization Incentive Fund to assist students who wish to participate this summer

The Madaba Plains Project is made up of three major excavations just outside of the capital of Amman. The sites are Tall Hisban (the biblical city of Heshbon), Tall Jalul and Tall al-’Umayri. This internationally renowned project, which has been running since 1968 with the support of the royal family of Jordan, focuses on Bronze and Iron Age periods in the Middle East.

The field season runs for three months, from early May to early August, with each of the excavation areas operating as essentially separate projects. Any students and volunteers are welcome to join the project for three-week or six-week commitments. Working alongside professional archaeologists, participants will learn field and laboratory methods including how to excavate a site, retrieve artifacts and report and interpret the findings. They’ll also gain invaluable cultural and language skills.

Contact Dr. Julie Cormack for more information.

Full story

Photo: The excavation of a large Bronze Age building at Tall al-’Umayri. Photo courtesy Dr. Larry Herr of the Madaba Plains Project.