2019 Archaeological Field School: Jordan

Eligibility Criteria

AR219* is a required course for the Archaeology and Heritage Studies program. Priority will be given to Archaeology and Heritage Studies majors, although students from any departmental program, or faculty at Laurier, are eligible to apply. The applicant must be in academic good-standing and a full-time or part-time registered student. Experience in archaeological excavation is not a prerequisite.

Background Information

Students will participate in the Khirbat al-Mukhayyat Archaeological Project, a multidisciplinary research project investigating the importance of trade, religion and landscape for ancient societies. Khirbat al-Mukhayyat is located 9 km northwest of the city of Madaba (which is where students and staff will be residing).

The site consists of a small acropolis and a lower town that extends to the north and south. Three Byzantine churches, dating to the 6th century, have been excavated at the site, indicating the presence of a prosperous community here in Late Antiquity. Previous survey work at the site has also revealed the presence of a substantial Iron Age (9th-8th century BCE) settlement.

The Khirbat al-Mukhayyat Archaeological Project is committed to not only uncovering the occupational history of the site but also to situate the ancient town within the larger economic and religious framework of this region. An extensive study of the landscape surrounding Khirbat al-Mukhayyat will be undertaken in order to pursue these broader research objectives.

This season's objectives are to uncover more of the deposits of ritual offerings associated with the site's Hellenistic fortifications, unearth more of the Iron Age remains and investigate their relationship to nearby defensive features; and explore several Late Neolithic sites in the valley to the west of the site. Students will be instructed in all aspects of surveying, field excavation and photography, plan- and section-drawing, artifact identification, and processing.

Orientation and fieldwork will take place in Jordan between June 12 and July 21. During this period, students will live together with the project staff in dormitory-style accommodations in several apartments located in Madaba, Jordan.

The normal work day will be from about 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with a break from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.), Sunday to Thursday. Students will have Fridays off. Saturdays will be devoted to field trips. 

The total estimated cost is $3,700 plus tuition for two courses (AR219* counts for 1.0 credit, or two 0.5 credit courses) and travel costs.