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TAWARA INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL

Archaeology practical course and dig summer 2019
Our new international course but this year we are venturing abroad with a new course.

Tawara Summer Schools are well known for their quality The subject will be practical archaeology and will be

summer courses which provide a wealth of varied, based near the site of a Roman city where there will be

interesting studies across a huge range of subjects. Until opportunities to practise the skills of finding, recovering

now all our courses have been based in our home town, and recording of artefacts.

Dates Visits
There are three archaeology on-site courses running this There will be visits to the amphitheatre in Amman and to

year. The first starts on the seventh of August 2019 the fascinating remains in Petra. There will also be a

(A1901) and the second on the twenty first of August detailed study of the city of Jerash, just to the north of

(A1902). The last one starts in the last week of August. Amman. The highlight of this part of the course will be

They will be based in Amman in Jordan and will focus the opportunity to join local archaeologists in

on Greco-Roman sites. investigating new parts of the city. This will be a

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residential part of the course with travel to, and inhabitants such as Mamluks, Jewish and Muslim

accommodation in, Jerash itself. settlements.

Why Jerash? The destruction of the city

The city flourished through many periods In 749, a powerful earthquake destroyed many buildings;

of civilisation as a columns that collapsed along the main street can still be

Greek, then seen in situ today. Gradually the city became buried, and

Roman trading centre. Its history dates back much was almost forgotten, but in recent times, more and more

further to the Bronze Age. The remains that have been has been uncovered with much more remaining to be

uncovered reveal many buildings and structures of the excavated (some of it under present day Jerash).

Roman city. Following occupation in the Byzantine What remains of the city?
period, it continued to flourish under Arabic rule. While There is much preserved of the Roman city including the

it appears to have been deserted for several centuries main street through the centre of the city. This is

until records of its habitation reappear under the bordered by impressive columns, some of which are still

Ottoman Empire, new research is finding evidence of standing. There is the forum flanked by colonnades, a

triumphal arch dedicated to the emperor Hadrian, an

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amphitheatre and fountains. At the north end of the city Field trip studies options
is the hippodrome; a racecourse for horses and chariots. Historical era On site location Activities
Much of the city is remarkably well preserved. The Bronze Age Trench Signs of human
activity
Purpose of the field courses. The Greek era The Hippodrome Greek style pottery
Domestic Roman Mosaic Preservation and
Members of our two courses (which overlap) will join life reconstruction
The Islamic town A mosque Reconstruction of
together to take part in archaeological digs on the site. an ancient building
Delegates can choose the option that is most relevant to
This operation will be led by a team of local
their own studies.
archaeologists and will teach practical skills of finding,

identifying, recording and preserving artefacts found on

the site of the dig. Small teams will focus on different

aspects of the history of Jerash. There will be

opportunities to explore different ages of the occupation

of the town from Bronze Age relics to more “modern”

finds such as the reconstruction of a recently discovered

mosaic floor.

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