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Most of our events are held at our center in Amman (click here for directions). If located elsewhere, this will be stated clearly in the announcement. If you missed a lecture, most are also posted on our YouTube channel a few days after.
updated 17 April 2025
2025 SPRING LECTURE SERIES
May 6: “Alois Musil’s Explorations of Southern Jordan in 1896–1902” by Robert Schick
March 3: “Remembering Khalil Gibran: An Unparalleled Guide for Our Times” by Paul G. Chandler
February 25: “Umm Al-Jimal: Jordan’s Newest UNESCO World Heritage Site” by Darrell Rohl
January 14: “Captivating Strangers: Early Arab Immigrants in the United States” by Linda K. Jacobs
“Desert Kites and the Timing of Prehistoric Hunting Landscapes in Jordan”
By Dr. Sahar AlKhasawneh
Date: May 26, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. Amman Time (11:00 a.m. EDT)
Place: American Center of Research, Amman (click for directions)
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82345476587?pwd=0bFedtwJ9BotdIBjHRyJLe8U1e2wEh.1
Webinar ID: 898 9632 3532
Passcode: 434748
YouTube livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@ACORJordan1968/streams
About the Lecture
Desert kites are among the most enigmatic prehistoric structures in Jordan’s arid landscapes, forming vast hunting traps designed to capture wild gazelles and other game. Despite their abundance, the timing of their construction and use has long been debated due to the scarcity of direct dating evidence. Our research employs innovative dating techniques to determine the age of a kite in Jordan, providing the first precise chronology for these ancient hunting landscapes
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
About the Speaker
Dr. Sahar al Khasawneh is an Associate Professor at the Department of Conservation and Management of Cultural Resources, Yarmouk University, Jordan, and a researcher specializing in nuclear physics, luminescence dating, geoarchaeology, and climate change. Her expertise lies in the application of radiometric and luminescence dating techniques to cultural heritage and archaeological research. At Yarmouk University, she leads research in the field of geoarchaeology and radiometric dating.
Dr. al Khasawneh has coordinated several international projects, including those under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), aimed at advancing nuclear techniques for the preservation of cultural heritage. She has received significant grants for her research, including for projects on luminescence rock surface dating in Jordan and the development of radiometric chronologies for megalithic structures.
Her peer-reviewed work has been published in high-impact journals, and she regularly contributes to international conferences on luminescence, archaeology, and geoarchaeology.
Dr. al Khasawneh has undertaken several research visits globally, collaborating with institutions in Poland, Germany, Cyprus, and Italy, among others. Her published research includes studies on luminescence dating of Neolithic and Iron Age sites in Jordan, as well as new methods for understanding ancient landscapes and human activity. She is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of cultural heritage through innovative applications of nuclear science and technology.
“Alois Musil’s Explorations of Southern Jordan in 1896–1902”
by Robert Schick
May 6, 2025
6:00 p.m. Amman Time (11:00 a.m. EDT)
Location: American Center of Research, Amman (click for directions)
The lecture may also be attended remotely:
Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84656482394?pwd=2xnYViPvlrWxZeyVdqgegHSHdRJuRd.1
Webinar ID: 846 5648 2394 | Passcode 752987
YouTube livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/@ACORJordan1968
Alois Musil (1864–1944) was a Czech explorer who travelled extensively in the Middle East from 1895 to 1917, including southern Jordan and the Negev between 1896 and 1902, just after the Ottomans reestablished government control of the region in 1894. He was the first explorer to travel systematically in southern Jordan and record archaeological sites and geographical features. He is best known for his discovery of Quseir ‘Amra in 1898.
He published the results of his travels in southern Jordan and the Negev in three volumes titled Arabia Petraea in 1907-1908. Because those volumes were written in German, they have been neglected, especially his ethnographic travel report. He immersed himself more deeply into the local culture than other explorers and he documented the first extensive corpus of Arabic poetry and music in Jordan.
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Robert Schick is an independent scholar who has devoted the bulk of his academic career to the history and archaeology of Jordan in the Late Roman to Islamic periods, with a focus on southern Jordan, with a second interest in the Islamic sites and monuments of Jerusalem. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1987 with a study on the Christian communities in Palestine from Byzantine to Islamic rule, and he has participated in numerous seasons of excavations in Jordan since 1980. He is a freelance translator of scholarly literature from German and Arabic into English, including the eight German volumes by Gustaf Dalman about Palestinian folk customs written a hundred years ago. He taught archaeology courses at the Palestinian al-Quds University and Bir Zeit University between 1995 and 1998, and he taught Islamic Studies in Hyderabad, India, from 2000 to 2006. He was based at the University of Mainz from 2014 to 2019.
“The Nabataeans’ Innovative Techniques: Water System, Pottery, and Quarries”
by Yazan Safwan Al-Tell
April 8, 2025
6:00 p.m. Amman Time (11:00 a.m. EST)
Location: American Center of Research, Amman (click for directions)
Watch the video on our YouTube channel
The science of interpretation, heritage, and archaeology plays a crucial role in a country such as Jordan, which boasts a rich tapestry of archaeological sites, among them Petra, Jerash, and the Dead Sea. These disciplines help uncover and preserve the stories of ancient civilizations, enabling a deeper understanding of Jordan’s cultural and historical legacy. Interpretation makes archaeological findings accessible to both experts and the general public, transforming static sites into immersive narratives that highlight their historical, social, and technological significance. This fosters a sense of national pride and identity, as Jordanians connect with their ancestors’ achievements and contributions to human civilization.
Moreover, heritage and archaeology have significant economic and social impacts in Jordan. Tourism driven by archaeological sites is a major contributor to the country’s economy, attracting millions of visitors annually. Proper interpretation and preservation ensure that these sites remain sustainable attractions, while also safeguarding their authenticity. Additionally, these sciences promote international collaboration, research, and funding opportunities, elevating Jordan’s global cultural standing. On a local level, they provide educational and employment opportunities, raising awareness about the importance of heritage conservation and empowering communities to actively participate in protecting their shared history.
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Yazan Safwan Al-Tell is an assistant professor at the University of Jordan’s Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism, specializing in cultural resource management. He earned his PhD in archaeology, cultural resource management, and conservation from the Brandenburg University of Technology in Germany, with a dissertation focusing on the interpretation and presentation of Nabataean innovative technologies, particularly in Petra, Jordan. His research interests include Nabataean heritage, cultural resource management, and the preservation of archaeological sites. He has published works on topics such as the looting of antiquities in Jordan and the detection of hazardous gases in museums using advanced materials.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Al-Tell has been involved in various initiatives to promote cultural heritage awareness. For instance, he accompanied 16 undergraduate students from the University of Jordan to the American Center of Research to celebrate International Archives Week. Dr. Al-Tell is also active on social media platforms, sharing insights related to his field
“Remembering Khalil Gibran: An Unparalleled Guide for Our Times”
by Paul G. Chandler
March 3, 2025
6:00 p.m. Amman Time (10:00 a.m. EST)
Location: American Center of Research, Amman (click for directions)
Watch the video on our YouTube channel
Drawing from his most recent book, In Search of a Prophet: A Spiritual Journey with Kahlil Gibran (Bloomsbury/Rowman & Littlefield), Paul G. Chandler will take the listener on a fascinating journey through the all-embracing nature of Kahlil Gibran, the early-20th century Lebanese-born poet-artist, author of the bestselling book _The Prophet_. Chandler will explore how Kahlil Gibran, a supreme East-West figure, is an unparalleled guide in the midst of today’s global challenges, related to peace, harmony, and the building of bridges between diverse cultures, ethnicities, and spiritual traditions.
About the Speaker:
Paul G. Chandler is an author, art curator, speaker, NGO executive, interreligious peacemaker, and intercultural bridgebuilder. He grew up in Senegal, West Africa, and has lived and worked extensively around the world in senior leadership roles within publishing, the arts, relief and development, and the Anglican Communion. He is the founding president of CARAVAN Arts, an international NGO that uses the arts for transformational purposes. He is recognized as a global leader in using the arts to build bridges, toward fostering peace, harmony, and wholeness in our world. He has organized and curated major art exhibitions internationally — in sacred spaces such as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and at notable art venues such as the National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman, Sotheby’s in London, the American University Museum in Washington, D.C., the Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery, and the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo, as well as at reverential memorial sites, including Ground Zero in New York.
“Umm Al-Jimal: Jordan’s Newest UNESCO World Heritage Site”
by Darrell Rohl
February 25, 2025
6:00 p.m. Amman Time (10:00 a.m. EST)
Location: American Center of Research, Amman (click for directions)
Watch the video on our YouTube channel
This lecture will explore the archaeological site of Umm Al-Jimal, inscribed as Jordan’s seventh UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2024. The presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the site’s “outstanding universal value,” making it accessible to both newcomers and those already familiar with Umm Al-Jimal. Attendees will gain insights into the site’s ancient structures and artifacts, which contribute to its unique historical significance.
The lecture will also highlight the enduring partnership among the Calvin University Umm Al-Jimal Archaeological Project, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, and the local community at Umm Al-Jimal. Initiated by the late Professor Bert de Vries in 1972, this collaboration has fostered innovation in field research, community engagement, heritage management, and site promotion. Current efforts focus on completing a backlog of major publications, digitizing over 50 years of research and fieldwork data for an open-access digital archive, generating high-precision three-dimensional documentation of the site’s ancient structures, and continuing to work for the flourishing of both the site and the local community. The lecture will conclude with a summary of future plans.
About the Speaker:
Darrell Rohl is an associate professor of archaeology and history at Calvin University and a co-director of the Umm Al-Jimal Archaeological Project. Currently residing in Jordan as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar affiliated with Al Al-Bayt University, Dr. Rohl is focusing on the digital documentation of Umm Al-Jimal. This project involves developing a new database using the Arches data platform and integrating terrestrial 3-D LiDAR scans with detailed architectural drawings and field data collected over the past five decades.
“The Iron Age Townscape of Busayra”
by Benjamin Porter
February 2, 2025
6:00 p.m. Amman Time (10:00 a.m. EST)
Watch the video on our YouTube channel
This talk draws together past and recent research on the Iron Age townscape of Busayra, widely believed to be the administrative capital of the kingdom of Edom. Excavations during the 1970s revealed a suite of monumental public architecture and residential neighborhoods on the settlement’s summit. Recent research carried out by the speaker and his colleagues have returned to these partially documented buildings to better understand their role in the settlement and in the broader region. Geophysical research in unexcavated areas have determined that these were part of a larger townscape awaiting further study. This talk will describe these new discoveries as well as discuss opportunities to continue site development and community engagement activities in the future.
About the Speaker:
Benjamin W. Porter is an associate professor of Middle Eastern archaeology in the University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. An archaeologist and anthropologist, Porter investigates the Bronze and Iron Age societies of the ancient Levant. He has carried out archaeological excavations at Dhiban and Busayra in Jordan. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Philosophical Society, and the Max Van Berchem Foundation, among others.
ONLINE LECTURE
“Captivating Strangers: Early Arab Immigrants in the United States”
by Linda K. Jacobs
Please note that this lecture is online only.
January 14, 2025
8:00 p.m. Amman Time (12:00 noon EST)
Watch the video on our YouTube channel
On January 14, 2025, please join us online for a lecture by Linda K. Jacobs, author of the new book Captivating Strangers: Early Arab Immigrants in the United States. In her latest work, Jacobs explores the untold stories of the first Arab immigrants to the United States. From North African acrobats who performed before the Civil War to western-educated doctors, merchants, and entrepreneurs who spread across the country in the 20th century, the book highlights the incredible variety of careers and contributions these individuals made to American society. Through rich narratives, Captivating Strangers uncovers how these early immigrants navigated challenges, built communities, and left a lasting legacy, shaping the cultural tapestry of the United States.
About the Speaker:
Linda K. Jacobs has a PhD in Near Eastern archaeology/anthropology and spent many years working on excavations and economic development projects in the region. She serves on the board of several regional NGOs. A recognized authority on the early Arab diaspora in the United States, she is the author of Captivating Strangers: Early Arab Immigrants in the United States (2024), Strangers in the West: The Syrian Colony of New York City, 1880–1900 (2015; 2nd Edition, 2023), and Strangers No More: Syrians in the United States, 1880–1900 (2019). An archaeological memoir, Digging In: An American Archaeologist Uncovers the Real Iran, appeared in 2012. All four of her grandparents were members of the 19th-century New York Syrian/Lebanese Colony.
Linda K. Jacobs is not only a passionate historian but also a generous supporter of cultural preservation. She has donated a significant collection of photographs of Syria and Jordan to our digital archive.
Events of Past Years
Online lectures on demand
Did you know ACOR has dozens of recordings of past academic presentations, available for free on our YouTube channel? Click here to see our video list, including short presentations from virtual academic conferences (e.g., ASOR and MESA) as well as feature lecture events previously held at ACOR in recent years.
