This blog will follow the third season of the Khirbet el-Mafjar Landscape Project. This is a collaborative project between Birzeit University, Palestine and University College London, co-directed by Dr Mahmoud Hawari and Dr Dominic Perring. I am a professional archaeologist and research student who, along with my fiancé and colleague, Lesley, provide the practical experience to teach students both from UCL and Birzeit in excavation and surveying skills.
The project examines the landscape surrounding Khibet el-Mafjar, otherwise known as Hisham's Palace a desert castle built in the Umaayad period. Major excavations were undertaken as the palace more than 50 years ago.
The preliminary study of the area, combined field walking technique with some walkover survey of the area near to the palace. The first season proper combined topographic and geophysical survey conducted by Lelsey (UCL) and Mick and Peter from Coracle. Additionally the boundary wall surrounding a park to the south-east of the castle was mapped accurately for the first time. The second season focused on two lines of aqueduct running from springs to the west and the south within the town of Jericho itself. This involved uncovering sections of the aqueduct which remains very well intact in places and tracing its line accurately or the first time
This is my second year in Jericho and I can't wait to go back in a couple of days time. It is a fantastic place and hopefully we will be doing some more excavation this year associated the water management system. Some of the students from last year are returning and some new students will be coming from both UCL and Birzeit.
Watch this space for updates about our travels and the work we will be undertaking.
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