News & Views

Michael Fradley, Endangered Archaeology EAMENA Project Access to satellite imagery has enabled major advances in archaeology and other disciplines studying the Middle East and North Africa. A comparable impact had not been realised over Israel and Palestine, where U.S. restrictions known as the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment limited imagery resolution over this area. This paper will present the work of Michael Fradley and Andrea Zerbini (1984-2019) to remove these restrictions, culminating in the reduction on limits in June 2020, but also considering how structural barriers remain in place. As well as telling this slightly improbable tale, it will also reflect and celebrate the work of Andrea Zerbini who died in July 2019.  Michael Fradley is a landscape archaeologist specialising in survey techniques,…

By Chad Hill Over the last decade it has become increasingly easy to capture high quality 3d data at a variety of scales. Advances in photogrammetry and lower costs for lidar and 3d scanning make it possible for more of the world to be captured and recorded with incredible precision. It has been incredible to watch these technologies permeate the field becoming widely applied tools for documenting cultural heritage. These data are increasingly accessible across the globe. Many museums offer 3d content in their digital collections, archeologists are publishing 3d content in their data repositories or as part of publications, and 3d data platforms are hosting ever increasing quantities of 3d models of sites, structures, and artifacts that are freely…

By Alexandra Ariotti Over two field seasons in 2017-2018 that were co-sponsored by the PEF, I excavated the impressive fortress site of Umm Tawabin (‘Mother of Bread Ovens’ in Arabic) overlooking the northern Wadi ‘Arabah in Jordan for the Ghor as-Safi Project (Figure 1. Aerial view of Umm Tawabin facing northwest. Photo by APAAME_20160927_REB-0186). From the time of its discovery by a PEF expedition in 1883-84, Umm Tawabin had never been excavated in spite of its spectacular setting and its numerous and varied archaeological remains that include a citadel with the ruins of a fort (Fort A), three other collapsed stone buildings (Forts B-D) and over 100 unusual circular stone enclosures all spread out over an area 880 by 450…

 “Unsilencing the Archives: The Laborers of the Tell en-Nasbeh Excavations (1926-1935)” is a new web exhibit from the Badè Museum at Pacific School of Religion, funded with a research grant from the PEF. The exhibit showcases unpublished archival documents, photographs, and film that illustrate the untold stories of local laborers, landowners, and Egyptian foremen who contributed to the excavations at Nasbeh in British Mandate Palestine. There are a series of lectures planned throughout the academic year, and these may also be made available to us as recorded lectures. To find out more please click here. Please also click here to view and download details of the lectures.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuxVySUq360

We are pleased to announce applications are open for the annual Routledge Philip R. Davies Career Publication Award 2022 which honours the memory of Professor Philip R. Davies, prior Chair of the Fund, who died suddenly and before his time in May 2018. The Award recognises his unique contribution to scholarship, his enthusiasm for academic publishing, and his desire to develop younger scholars.  The award encourages early career scholars in producing original, high quality research articles. To this end, rather than a single prize, the Fund offers prizes to the winner and up to two runners up, as well as the chance to publish their articles in the PEF’s own peer-reviewed journal, the Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ). The PEQ focuses on…

We are pleased to announce applications are open for the Palestine Exploration Fund/Albright Institute Fellowship 2022-23 annual award of £3,000 to support research that requires access to the PEF archives and collection and also time spent in residence at the Albright Institute in Jerusalem. The Fellowship requires a minimum of 10 working days at the PEF in Greenwich, London, and a 1 month minimum stay at AIAR in Jerusalem. Click here to find out more.