Lee University professor Dr. Daniel Hoffman and history and art double major Melissa Hope have returned from six weeks of archaeological work in central Jordan. They were part of the 6th field season of the Karak Resources Project sponsored in part by Lee University.
The KRP is a multi-disciplinary project that studies how the people of the Karak plateau, east of the Dead Sea, have utilized resources over time. The main source of information, a case study of resource utilization, comes from the ongoing excavation of an Iron Age fortress that dates back to about 700 B.C. called Mudaybi. It is located near the desert at the eastern edge of the Karak plateau and was originally built by the ancient Moabites, perhaps with encouragement or support from the main power in the region, the Assyrians.
Dr. Hoffman directed the survey team which documented 27 previously unrecorded and largely unknown ancient sites. These sites included ancient quarries, cisterns, portions of roads, and a variety of building ruins. In addition, numerous other previously known sites on the plateau were revisited in part to see how modern population growth and the development of water and road systems have impacted the ancient sites.
Ms. Hope worked in a 6 X 6 meter square in the domestic area of the Moabite fort for most of the summer. On days away from Mudaybi, she also participated in a regional survey team and was able to visit several other historical and Biblical sites in Jordan such as Mt. Nebo, where Moses died (Deut. 34), and Petra.
Lee has joined a consortium of colleges and universities that supports the KRP. As a consortium member, students and faculty will have access for teaching purposes to the many objects and ancient artifacts found at the excavation site and elsewhere in Jordan. In addition, general lectures from KRP participants and a display of some of the items from the excavation will be held throughout the year at Lee.
Dr. Hoffman, who teaches ancient history at Lee, believes that students benefit greatly by seeing and handling artifacts from the ancient world and areas described in the Bible and even more by taking part in projects such as the KRP in Jordan.
For more information about KRP contact dhoffman@leeuniversity.edu or call 614-8351.
Dr. Hoffman at the ruins of a late Islamic building in central Jordan. Click to enlarge.