News and Events

14 May 2026 We are very sad to announce the passing of Dr. Pierre Bikai on May 12, 2026. Dr. Bikai was trained as an archaeologist at the University of California, Davis, and served as director of the American Center of Research from 1991 to 2006, where he was joined by his wife Dr. Patricia […]

11 May 2026 In his lecture, Prof. Ali Al-Manaser of the Hashemite University will shed light on the Badia Epigraphic Survey (BES) Project and its most important results from the various seasons conducted so far. Particular attention will be given to the most recent field season, during which an integrated research team conducted archaeological excavations

22 April 2026 We are pleased to announce that Sarah Wenner, assistant professor at ACOR, has received a 2026 Steinmetz Grant from the Archaeological Institute of America. The AIA’s Steinmetz Endowment “supports the use of technology in archaeological research by providing grants to archaeological projects that make innovative use of technological tools and methods.” Prof.

20 April 2026 The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), Global Digital Heritage (GDH), and the American Center of Research (ACOR) signed last week a Memorandum of Understanding at the PDTRA offices in Wadi Musa, establishing a formal partnership centered on the digital documentation of Petra Archaeological Park and its environs. The ceremony was

8 April 2026 Nisreen Abu AlShaikh, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director, and Lina Shara’an, Human Resources Manager, conducted an official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, where they met with the Director General of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), Dr. Masaoud Badawi, and the Deputy Director, Dr. Lina Kutiefan. During the

7 April 2026 ACOR provided training to three employees from the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums and four from Jordan’s Department of Antiquities who specialize in museums and object cataloging. The training equipped museum and heritage professionals with practical instruction in using Axiell Collections for the documentation and management of museum collections and

6 April 2026 To strengthen relationships with the Syrian DGAM, ACOR was honored in February to host the new Director General, Dr. Masaoud Badawi, and the Deputy Director, Dr. Lina Kutiefan, for three days of discussions and planning at our center. During their visit on February 19–21, the Director General of Jordan’s Department of Antiquities,

4 April 2026 (Please note that this presentation is in person only in WASHINGTON, D.C.) Co-hosted by The George Washington University’s Center for Ancient Arabian Studies. About the Lecture In 2021, the Cincinnati Art Museum reinstalled the Ancient Middle East gallery. Funded in part by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National

16 March 2026 The next issue of our newsletter (37.2) is now available online! It will be arriving in mailboxes soon. This issue features: Download your copy!

15 March 2026 The American Center of Research is honored to announce that the U.S. Embassy in Amman and the U.S. State Department’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has granted us a two-year award to undertake archaeological work at Ain az-Zara, protecting cultural heritage of the Holy Land, and sharing that heritage directly with the