Umm el-Jimal Interim
January 2010
Field Work in Archaeology
This on-site introduction to archaeological field work is designed to expose students to the methodologies involved in documentation field work involving audio-visual recording, digital documentation, and museum development in the context of the modern community.
The January 2010 Interim field school will involve students in a documentation season at Umm el-Jimal, Jordan, a well preserved town from the Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, and modern eras. Students will participate in digital photographic documentation of structures, planning of both digital and actual site-museum presentation, interview-based recording of modern Umm el-Jimal village culture, architectural analysis, and educational curriculum.
The students will work as part of a team of professional archaeologists from Jordan and the United States. A lecture series on contextual subjects and lessons in Arabic will round out the week-day routine. Students will learn by doing under the guidance and supervision of senior team members, who will turn in written evaluations to the course instructor (who is also the field project director).
Three weekends will be used for travel in Jordan, including a visit to Petra; a post session trip to Jerusalem is optional. Students will learn some basic Arabic language and current Middle East history and politics informally from the entire experience.
Course dates: January 2-26. Optional post-course (extra cost) travel to Jerusalem, January 26-28.
