In 2021, the American Center of Research and the Jordanian Department of Antiquities partnered together to create a new community archaeology program: the Abdoun Community Archaeology Project. As described elsewhere,[1] the project serves as a place to deepen the involvement of members of the public with the rich history and heritage of the area. That is, an opportunity to get their hands dirty. Under the close supervision of trained professionals, volunteers will be welcomed to help understand and excavate the site. With a focus on ensuring those who live around such sites have an appreciation for historical structures and the past, the goal is simply to see more people informed and involved.
The “Abdoun south” site is located in the heart of one of the busiest parts of Amman, especially notable for the presence of diplomatic missions and expatriates from all over the world. The site is currently fenced in and is located east of the Japanese Garden, a public park that was opened in 2010. As best we understand the site today, it consists of multiple buildings built of large limestone blocks, but no wholistic documentation exists. In 2021, the site was recoded as it stands today. Still, the site needs excavation and further documentation in order to identify its function. The history of the site is believed to date at least as far back as the Ammonite era, specifically to the Iron Age II, but it was reused during the Roman and Ayyubid-Mamluk periods.
In December 2021 we conducted the first season at the site. The work focused mainly on site cleaning and removal of recent rubbish. In addition, survey and documentation activities commenced where the survey grid was installed and all the features at the site were documented using GIS and photogrammetry. Excavation of the site started in May 2022.
[1] Ala’a Al Badarin, Hanadi Al Taher, Jehad Haron, Nizar Al Adarbeh, and Pearce Paul Creasman, 2021, Archaeology in Amman, ACOR Newsletter 33.1, pg 3.
