The American Center of Research

22/09/2026

New book in the ACOR library: _The Fortifications of Ancient Egypt, 3000–1780 BC_ by Carola Vogel, illustrated by Brian Delf (Osprey Publishing, 2010).

From the publisher: “During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, Ancient Egypt led the world in the construction of fortifications. The oldest was discovered on Elephantine Island and dates to c. 2900 BC. This book investigates over 2,000 years of Egyptian fortification, including both fortified cities and military installations. It covers the most famous sites, including the fortified town of Ayn Asil and the fortress of Buhen. The text also examines the specific defensive structures within the fortifications, including gates, walls, and towers, and looks at both the operation and social history of these ancient military strongholds. Maps, photographs, and artwork by Brian Delf recreate this long-lost but legendary era, a treat for the eye as well as the mind.” (Image created using Nano Banana Pro by Google Gemini.)

21/09/2026

_ACOR Newsletter_ 38.1 has just been published and is now available for download from our website. If you are expecting the print edition, it will arrive in your mailbox soon.

In this issue, you will learn about:

* A new Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grant for a major project, Conservation of the Roman Imperial (2nd-Century A.D.) Western Theater in Umm Qais (Ancient Gadara).
* Progress by our excavation team at Kallirhoe, working on the "Preservation and Protection of the Holy Land at Herod's Ain az-Zara Palace and Port to Mukawir" project, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of State and the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
* Further training to fight the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, now including the Public Security Directorate of Jordan, thanks to funding from the U.S. Embassy in Amman.
* Recent progress on the National Cultural Heritage Property Database of The Kingdom of Jordan (the National Inventory) thanks to restoration of a grant from the U.S. Department of State.
* Tributes to Pierre M. Bikai and Sally de Vries.
* Our relationship with the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA), including the evacuation of CASA Fellows in March due to events in the region.
* A variety of field schools and workshops, including some in collaboration with Global Digital Heritage.
* Our board of trustees meeting in Amman.
* Plus updates on our library, lectures, staff... and more!

Check our entire catalog of newsletters and "newzettes" going back to ACOR Newsletter 1 in 1989.

https://publications.acorjordan.org/newsletter/

16/09/2026

If this photo looks familiar, it is probably because it was shared widely in the media last month.

On August 17, 2026, ACOR and Jordan Customs jointly convened the National Identity between Narrative and the Preservation of Cultural Property workshop in Amman under the Cultural Heritage Protection Program's Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage project. The workshop brought together more than 60 participants from Jordan Customs, the Public Security Directorate, the Department of Antiquities, national universities, the National Library, ACOR and other NGOs, and regional embassies, as well as senior officials, judges, and media representatives.

This was organized under ACOR's Preventing Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage (a component of the Preservation and Protection of the Holy Land at Herod’s Ain az-Zara Palace and Port to Mukawir project, which is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Amman and the U.S. State Department’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation), in partnership with Jordan Customs, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen multi-agency coordination and legal awareness around the protection of Jordan's cultural property.

The workshop achieved its core objective of raising cross-institutional awareness of illicit trafficking in cultural property and strengthening engagement among Jordan's key governmental law enforcement, and judicial bodies.

Photo: Some of the presenters and participants in the Narrative and the Preservation of Cultural Property workshop. (Courtesy of Jordan Customs.)

15/09/2026

We have published a new essay in our blog, Insights: "A Psalm in Stone: A Season Among Madaba’s Mosaics" by Kristen Flake:

"The Church of Sts. Lot and Procopius sits on the acropolis of ancient Khirbet al-Mukhayyat, overlooking the Dead Sea. Its 6th-century mosaic pavement is one of the best preserved in the region, covering the nave floor with the motifs typical of late antique Jordan: hunters and shepherds, vine scrolls filled with birds and animals, and Nilotic scenes of boats and fishermen (Fig. 1). These motifs have been documented and cataloged for decades. My dissertation research looks at them differently, not motif by motif, but as a single, coordinated visual program, and asks what that program meant to the people who worshipped in this space."

https://publications.acorjordan.org/2026/09/15/flake-psalm-in-stone/

15/09/2026

New book in the ACOR library: _Jordan: Politics in an Accidental Crucible_ by Sean Yom (Oxford University Press, 2025).

From the publisher: “Jordan is the runt of the Middle East. Compared to neighboring Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, it has the smallest population, scarcest resources, and greatest vulnerability to regional violence. And yet this contrived place, with its divided society and antiquated monarchy, has outlasted endless predictions of collapse to become a veritable oasis of stability. Jordan is an accidental crucible where titanic forces have converged to create an important, if misunderstood, state. In _Jordan_, Sean Yom provides a concise yet authoritative synthesis of the Hashemite Kingdom’s development from its founding over a century ago to the present. He explores Jordan’s government, society, economy, and foreign policy in a systematic manner, offering an immersive tour of this vital Arab country. Uniquely, Yom combines theoretical work from political science, sociology, and other scholarly fields with firsthand knowledge of Jordan garnered over decades of study. His insights show how Jordan’s political experiences form a microcosm for understanding the entire Middle East. Among the topics covered are its colonial legacies, fractious national identity, authoritarian rule, civil society, democratic protests, economic development, neoliberal corruption, geopolitical conflicts, and Western hegemony. A comprehensive and rigorous study of politics in Jordan, this book underscores the urgency of the country’s historical struggles and contemporary affairs, which will shape the future of democracy, prosperity, and peace in the Middle East.” (Image created using Nano Banana Pro by Google Gemini.)

09/09/2026

We have just shared a new lecture video on our YouTube channel: "New Technologies for the Presentation of Cultural Heritage Environments in Education" by Dr. Lama Khaled Maabreh.

In her lecture, Dr. Lama Khaled Maabreh explored how technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), 360-degree panoramic photography, 3D modeling, 2D interactive maps, and digital platforms can transform archaeological and cultural heritage sites into accessible virtual experiences. Drawing on the Jordan Desert VR project, she presented the digital documentation and virtual representation of Jordan’s Umayyad desert heritage, with particular emphasis on Qasr al-Harrana, Mshatta, and Quseir ‘Amra. The discussion demonstrated how digital heritage environments can support education, research, virtual tourism, cultural preservation, and public engagement, while creating sustainable digital archives for future generations.

The lecture also introduced the practical process behind the development of the Jordan Desert VR platform, including field documentation, high-resolution and 360-degree photography, architectural documentation, digital visualization, 3D representation, interactive navigation, and the integration of historical and educational content. The platform provides users, including students, educators, researchers, tourists, and the general public, with the opportunity to explore Jordanian heritage beyond geographical and physical limitations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP6MUdhNBrU

09/09/2026

08/09/2026

ACOR is pleased to share news that we and the Department of Antiquities have signed an agreement for the rehabilitation and development of Karak Castle.

08/09/2026

New book in the ACOR library: _Jordan, Palestine, and the Politics of Collective Identity: A History_ by Asher Susser (Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2024).

From the publisher: “In a sweeping narrative, Asher Susser traces the evolution of Jordanian politics through the prism of the kingdom’s policies toward Palestine and the Palestinians. Susser shows how the triangular relationship involving Jordan, the Palestinians, and Israel ― from the creation of the Emirate of Transjordan in 1921 to the present ― came to influence the Jordanians’ sense of collective identity, the impact it had on the making of peace between Jordan and Israel, and how it has shaped the complex and often tense relationship between Jordanian citizens of Palestinian origin and their East Bank compatriots. His work also sheds crucial light on Jordanian perceptions of their national security in the context of the war between Israel and Hamas.” (Image created using Nano Banana Pro by Google Gemini.)

07/09/2026

Happy Labor Day!