Staff

1984 Season

Excavation of churches and E cemetery. Excavation continued at the Numerianos Church and Roman castellum. New work occurred at the Double Church, Julianos Church, and W Church. East of town several burials and two reservoirs were investigated. Further soundings identified an Early Roman village SE of the town.

Senior Staff:
Abu Yusuf, Cook
John Betlyon, Numismatist
Ghazi Bisheh, DAJ Representative
Bruce Dahlberg, Area Supervisor
Stephanie Damadio, Human Osteologist
William De Kraker, Architect
Laurette De Veaux, Area Supervisor
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Shelly Dunn, Assistant Area Supervisor
Mifleh al-Gharaibeh, DAJ Representative
Jennifer Groot, Area Supervisor
Ann Haeckl, Area Supervisor
Frank Koucky, Geologist & Survey
Hasan Mahmoud Abu Sami, Cook

S. Thomas Parker, Stratigrapher & Ceramicist
Scott Rolston, Human Osteologist & Survey
Robert Schick, Area Supervisor

Square Supervisors and Students:
Brenda Bolens                 Sultan es-Serour
Nick Cassis                    Daniel Slager
Katherine Dempsey           Anne Undeland
Tanya de Vries                   Louise Zimmer
Joy Erlich
Victoria Goodwin
Gwen Hollaar
Brian Jaarsma
Cindy Kamp
Ron Kool
Katherine Old
Dan Ritsema

1972-1973 Season

Comprehensive site survey. Personnel completed ground level measurements building by building, while the Aero-Precisa company of Beirut undertook an aerial survey. Work was designed to update and complete early mapping by H.C. Butler’s Princeton University Expedition of 1905 and 1909.

Senior Staff:
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Mifleh al-Gharaibeh, DAJ Representative

Square Supervisors and Students:
Gary Rozeboom

1974 Season

Preliminary stratigraphic soundings.
Staff conducted preliminary excavations to create a basic record of occupation periods for Umm el-Jimal along with evidence from surface remains and architecture. Results supported habitation during the Late Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Late Ottoman, and Modern periods.

Senior Staff:
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
James Sauer, Stratigrapher
Hikmat Ta’ani, DAJ Representative

Square Supervisors and Students:
Zee Aimé
Dick Dorsett
Gordon Malarkey
Susan Sauer

1977 Season

Excavation of major structures. Excavation commenced of the later castellum (‘barracks’), the Praetorium, the so-called Nabataean Temple, House XVIII, as well as the S and W perimeter walls. A three-season survey of the region around Umm el-Jimal began.

Senior Staff:
Mohammad Adawi, Cook
John Betlyon, Numismatist
Robin Brown, Stratigrapher
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Jennifer Groot, Area Supervisor
Bud Haggard, Assistant Area Supervisor
Frank Koucky, Geologist & Survey
Paul McDermott, Epigrapher & Assistant Area Supervisor
S. Thomas Parker, Stratigrapher & Ceramicist
Hikmat Ta’ani, DAJ Representative
Mike Toplyn, Animal Osteology & Area Supervisor

Square Supervisors and Students:
Richard Abma
Connie Brummel
Roger Brummel
Craig Bultsma
Laurette De Veaux
Tanya de Vries
Tara de Vries
Shelly Dunn
Charles Fondse
Barb Oppewall
Keith Vander Laan

1981 Season

Excavation and water system. Excavation continued of earlier squares. Work started at the earlier castellum, the NE and E gates, two churches, House 92, and the Area K dump. Investigation of the ancient water system also began, and the regional survey continued.

Senior Staff:
Richard Abma, Photographer
Joanne Bloom, Area Supervisor
Robin Brown, Stratigrapher & Area Supervisor
Craig Bultsma, Architect
Vincent Clark, Epigrapher & Survey
Robert Coughenor, Area Supervisor
Laurette De Veaux, Area Supervisor
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Shelly Dunn, Assistant Area Supervisor
Jennifer Groot, Area Supervisor
Hafzi Haddad, DAJ Representative
Ann Haeckl, Area Supervisor
Frank Koucky, Geologist & Survey
Myra Mare, Assistant Area Supervisor
Paul McDermott, Epigrapher & Assistant Area Supervisor

S. Thomas Parker, Stratigrapher & Ceramicist
Scott Rolston, Human Osteologist & Survey
Hussein Tayyib, Foreman
Laurie Tiede, Assistant Area Supervisor
Mike Toplyn, Animal Osteology & Area Supervisor
David Vis, Photographer

Square Supervisors and Students:
Albertha Anker
Howard Atsma
Brenda Brummel
Amy Coughenor
John Coughenor
Tara de Vries
Susan Klein
Randal Medendorp

1992 Season

Surface recording and balloon photography. Personnel created detailed architectural drawings of late antique complexes, Houses 35, 49, and 119, as well as the Praetorium. Balloon photography was conducted over the Roman village and Byzantine town for mapping and GIS.

Senior Staff:
Abu Yusuf, Cook
Amjad al-Bataineh, DAJ Representative & Architect
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Ricky Sherrod, Student Advisor & Assistant Area Supervisor

Square Supervisors and Students:
Gregor Alpers
Matthew Gus
Irene Hart
Tania Hobbs
Hervé Irion
Maria Murray
Edwin Orogo
Jana Sharpe
Rob Wilken
Jason Yeats

1993 Season

Museum preparation and village mapping. Excavations were conducted to prepare House 119 for future use as a museum and visitor center. Two cist tombs were excavated W of the Byzantine town. Mapping of the Early Roman village continued.

Senior Staff:
Amjad al-Bataineh, DAJ Representative & Architect
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Cherie Lenzen, Ceramicist
Hasan Mahmoud Abu Sami, Cook
Ricky Sherrod, Student Advisor & Assistant Area Supervisor
Douglas Winnail, Architect

Square Supervisors and Students:
Andrea Cameron
Melissa Cheyney
Robert Fahey
Karen Hegna
Rachel Hoekman
Michael Hortsmanshof
Colleen Kittredge
Trevor Mokeyane
Sharon Stewart
Mark Swenson
Colette Vroom
Lynda White
Sherry Winnail

1994 Season

Excavation of the Early Roman village. Major digging occurred in the 1st-4th century village to determine its history and relationship to the nearby Byzantine town. Investigation of cist burials in two W cemeteries uncovered at least 31 burials. Architectural and epigraphic surveys continued.

Senior Staff:
Amjad al-Bataineh, DAJ Representative & Architect
Janet Brashler, Stratigrapher
Melissa Cheney, Stratigrapher
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Gerard Hammink, Photographer
Cherie Lenzen, Ceramicist
Aladdin Madi, Cook
Hasan Mahmoud Abu Sami, Cook
Ahmad al-Momani, Stratigrapher
Paul Van Dyk, Computing
Colette Vroom, Ceramics Registrar

Square Supervisors and Students:
Scott Backer
Renata Banham
Cornela Brummel
Roger Brummel
Vanessa Ellison
Suzanne Freeman
Alan Bruce Hobbs
Michael Hortsmanshof
Herve' Irion
Brenda Katerberg
Paul Katerberg
Jean Nelson
Paul Nelson
John Soh

1996 Season

Excavation of burials and Roman village. Excavations continued at the rubble-strewn southeastern site known as “Al-Herri,” which was previously revealed as the site of an Early Roman village. Excavations of W cemeteries also continued, to examine mortuary practices as well as provide organic samples for carbon-14 dating.

Senior Staff:
Abu Yusuf, Cook
Amjad al-Bataineh, Architect
Janet Brashler, Stratigrapher
Melissa Cheney, Stratigrapher
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Edith Dunn, Architect
Mifleh al-Gharaibeh, DAJ Representative
Michael Horstmanshof, Stratigrapher
Cherie Lenzen, Ceramicist
Aladdin Madi, Cook
Ahmad al-Momani, Stratigrapher
Monica Shah, Human Osteologist
Paul Van Dyk, Computing
Colette Vroom, Ceramics Registrar

Square supervisors and Students:
Timothy Becksvoort
James Blankespoor
Gregory DeVries
Harriet Douglas
Chris Haven
Benjamin Hoksbergen
Brian Hunter
Roger Kiers
Muaffaq al-Msied
Andrew Meskil
Joshua Moritz
Malinda Muehlhausen
John Rau

1998 Season

Osteological analysis and Al-Harri excavation. Trenches at the Early Roman village from earlier seasons were reopened, in order to excavate to sterile soil. Major osteological analysis first begun in 1994 and 1996 continued.

Senior Staff:
Janet Brashler, Stratigrapher
Melissa Cheney, Stratigrapher
Bert de Vries, Director & Architect
Sally de Vries, Administrator
Edith Dunn, Architect
Cherie Lenzen, Ceramicist & Stratigrapher
Aladdin Madi, Cook
Ahmad al-Momani, DAJ Representative & Stratigrapher
Abd el-Qader al-Husan, DAJ Representative
Richard Whitekettle, Education Program

Square Supervisors and Students:
Anne Albers
Omar Badri
James Blankespoor
Brent Boersma
Nathan Contant
Gregory DeVries
Kim De Wall
Harriet Douglas
Samuel Glass
Benjamin Hoksbergen
Julie Hooker
Brian Hunter
Jeremy Konyndyk
Meghan Lane

Andrew Meskil
Jason Miles
Muaffaq al-Msied
John Rau
David Rupke
Justin Smalligan
Beth Vanden Berg
Katrina Vegter
Peter Wampler
Jessica Yarch

2009 Season

Digital Archaeology and Creative Media. The 2009 Umm el-Jimal field school focused on three main goals: digital documentation of the site and environmental archaeological research; study of modern Umm el-Jimal’s people, history, and culture using video and other media; and planning for site conservation as well as physical and virtual museums.

Umm El-Jimal Staff

For almost four decades hundreds of people have committed their time and expertise to the Umm el-Jimal archaeology project. Scholars, locals, students, officials, institutions, and other colleagues have all been critical to its ongoing vitality. Moreover, over 100 laborers from modern Umm el-Jimal have contributed their skill in digging, wheeling barrows, and mixing cement. The project gratefully recognizes their two generations of diligence.

2010 Season

Digital Archaeology and Creative Media. The 2010 Umm el-Jimal field school focused on three main goals: digital documentation of the site and environmental archaeological research; study of modern Umm el-Jimal’s people, history, and culture using video and other media; and planning for site conservation as well as physical and virtual museums.

Senior Staff:
Bert de Vries
Sally de Vries
Muaffaq Mseid Hazza
Paul Christians
Craig Mulder
Jeff DeKock
David Roukema
Sarah Oord
Mary Workman
Bernhard Lucke
Laurie Koning

Virtual Museum:
Juanita Gibson
Laura VanDyke
Katie Riley

Video Production:
Josh Donnelly
Kori Francis
Kirk Carson

Virtual Reconstruction:
Tawfiq al-Hanaiti
Mowafaq al-Fayez
Jared Renaud
Jim Kuipers
Jacob Speelman

Cultural Heritage:
Jin Ha Kim
Tiffany Wang
Zenobia Taylor-Weiss
Eleanor DeYoung

Educational Curriculum:
Matt Sytsma
Adam Koster

Historical Ecology:
Adam Koster

Senior Staff:
Bert de Vries
Sally de Vries
Muaffaq Mseid Hazza
Paul Christians
Jeff DeKock
David Roukema
Kori Francis
Jacob Speelman
Jim Kuipers
Jared Renaud

Museums:
Laura VanDyke
Steph Dykert
Kaitlyn Pomykala

Video Production:
Katey Jones
Daniel Laninga

Virtual Reconstruction:
Tawfiq al-Hanaiti
Mowafaq al-Fayez
Andew Atkins

Cultural Heritage:
Zenobia Taylor-Weiss
Ed Long
Matt Lehrer
Emily Pope

Educational Curriculum:
Michal Jones
Nick VanderLugt