The ACOR Video Lecture Series provides accessible discussions of new research into the past and present of Jordan and the broader Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean worlds. This video was adapted from the July 2017 public lecture delivered at ACOR by Dr. Bert de Vries, Professor of Archaeology at Calvin College and Director of the Umm el-Jimal Project.
“Why Umm el-Jimal Should Be Included
in Tourism Packages and Itineraries”
About the Lecture:
Umm el-Jimal is a truly one-of-a-kind site in Jordan, distinct from other popular sites such as Petra, Jerash, and Umm Qais. One of the longest continually inhabited sites in Jordan, Umm el-Jimal’s history is of great interest to both Jordanians and foreign visitors.
Recent work on the site has made it even more accessible to visitors as it is now equipped with a tourism trail, brochures, interpretive center, as well as rest rooms, snacks, and a new visitors center. This hospitality infrastructure is largely managed by the local community, providing a distinct experience for visitors.
Just a little over an hour northwest of Amman, Umm el-Jimal is perfect on its own as a day trip or included in wider tours that explore Hauran culture, the Desert Castles, or other surrounding sites such as Umm es-Surab, Umm el-Quttein, Deir Kahaf, Qasr Burqu, and Jawa.
About the Lecturer:
Professor de Vries retired from teaching in the History Department of Calvin College in May 2013. He continues to administer the Archaeology minor program at Calvin College and also teaches archaeology, and directs the fieldwork and publication of the Umm el-Jimal Project during his retirement.
Bert de Vries’s history writing is informed by his specialization as an archaeological architect. He works on sites in the Near East and counts studies of rural towns, churches, forts, baths, and agricultural landscapes among his favorite sites. His current research focuses primarily on Umm el-Jimal, a Roman-to-Islamic era town in north Jordan.
Please visit the Umm el-Jimal website for more information about this site.
This video lecture is not official U.S. Government information and does not necessarily represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.
