The Dhiban Excavation and Development Project: Paleolandscape Assessment
A Collaborative Research project (Faculty Research) awarded to:
- Dr. Katherine Adelsberger, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Knox College
- Dr. Danielle Steen Fatkin, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, Knox College
The FaCE grant awarded in spring 2009 provided funding for the first season in summer 2009 of an interdisciplinary project in Jordan to develop a paleolandscape assessment of Dhiban as part of the Dhiban Excavation and Development Project (DEDP), an established archaeological project in the area.
The interdisciplinary FaCE-related portion of this project involved a regional survey for paleoclimate proxies and water resources, detailed site-specific survey for previously undiscovered cisterns and occupational periods, and the training of undergraduate students.
The excavations are part of a broader project to develop "best practices" in archaeological scholarship through the integration of outreach, excavation and geoarchaeology, and the project would be the first step in the longer-term involvement of Knox College (and other ACM faculty and students) in the Dhiban Project.
- Read more about the summer 2009 field season in the article Faculty and Students Dig Deep for Adventure at Dhiban on the ACM website.
- Read posts from participants and see photos at the Dhiban Project blog.
- For more information about the project in summer 2009, go to the Overview page.
Summer 2012 Field Season for Students
As part of the work of the DEDP, we bring about 20 archaeology students from different institutions to participate in the project. We train them in archaeological field methods by rotating them through various learning stations, including excavation, materials processing, flotation, topographic survey and geologic survey. They are taught to excavate, record, and analyze archaeological and geological materials. In addition, there are evening seminars on methods, theory, and history twice a week and two weekend field trips to major Jordanian archaeological sites during the season.
- Field Season Dates: June 29 - August 10, 2012
- Cost: $3,000 program fee + airfare and flight insurance (this is a reduced program fee available only to ACM students)
- Application Deadline: March 15, 2012 (application must be received by this date)
- The DEDP field school for ACM students does not provide academic credit. ACM students interested in earning credit must arrange to do so through their home institutions, please email dhibanproject@gmail.com if you have questions.
For complete information and application materials, download the 2012 Field School Application (Acrobat (PDF) 213kB Dec5 11).
