Daily Archives: 13 December 2021

Part 2: The Restoration and Documentation Project of the Shrine of Emad Al-Din on Mount Ebal, Nablus. By Loay Abu Alsaud Location: Mount Ebal, NablusHistorical Context: Early Ottoman Period to the present dayProject Start Date: April 17, 2023 The shrine of Emad Al-Din, located on Mount Ebal in Nablus, is a significant historical and religious site from the early Ottoman period (16th century CE). Over the years, the shrine fell into disrepair due to neglect, theft, and looting by treasure hunters, which caused severe damage to its structure and antiquities. Recognising its historical and cultural importance, the Society of Palestinian Archaeologists, in collaboration with the An-Najah National University Nablus as its academic partner, sought the necessary permissions from Ministry of Palestinian Antiquities, and…

By Loay Abu Alsaud. Part 1. The Foundation of the Society The Society for Palestinian Archaeology was formally established on September 1, 2022, with a mission to advance the preservation, research study, and dissemination of Palestine’s extensive archaeological heritage. This organization emerged in response to the pressing need for a coordinated initiative dedicated to safeguarding Palestinian cultural and historical sites. These sites, which hold significant historical and cultural value, have increasingly faced threats from destruction, neglect, and misrepresentation. The Society aims to address these challenges by promoting research, enhancing awareness, and advocating for policies that protect and accurately represent Palestinian heritage. Through collaborations with local and international scholars, institutions, and communities, the Society seeks to ensure that Palestinian archaeology is…

By Loay Abu Alsaud, Department of Tourism and Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine. loayabualsaud@najah.edu Presenting a new collection of biographical information on formerly overlooked Palestinian archaeologists and those following in their footsteps, to the present day During the 19th and 20th centuries, accounts of Western expeditions and research dominated the archaeological history of Palestine. Owing to centuries of foreign control, Palestinians did not have their own archaeological research base. Nevertheless, during the early to mid-20th century, there were Palestinian archaeologists as integral members of Western teams, involved in tasks in all areas. Working side by side with westerners, a number of them acquired professional archaeological skills and expertise. The Western expeditions depended on…

By Will M. Kennedy After some considerable delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first field season of the Petra Hinterland Social Landscapes Project (PHSLP) was finally realized in June/ July 2022.  It is assumed that Nabataean Petra was greatly impacted by a social structure that was rooted in family, clan or tribal traditions. While such socio-political aspects of Nabataean culture have already been extensively explored in urban Petra, investigations of similar aspects in the city’s hinterland are only beginning to gain wider scholarly attention. However, important archaeological sites may be identified in the Petraean hinterland as possible archaeological markers of distinct social landscapes in Petra’s surroundings. These include specific cultic sites such as rural sanctuaries or isolated cultic installations,…