11 May 2025
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. Research employing innovative dating techniques has determined 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.
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 Speaker
Dr. Sahar al Khasawneh is an associate professor in 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.
She 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.