Archaeology in Jordan, 2008 and 2009 seasons: Islamic Jarash Project

The 2010 edition of the “Archaeology in Jordan” newsletter presents short reports on excavations and archaeological projects in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conducted during 2008 and 2009. Reports are organized geographically from north to south. The Joint Danish-Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project (IJP) is directed by Walmsley and sponsored by University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The project commenced in 2002 with the principal objective of excavating an Early Islamic (Umayyad) mosque. It has since expanded to include a Late Roman bathhouse, along with a series of larger buildings immediately west of the mosque. In 2008, the project expanded across the town’s central thoroughfare (cardo), integrating a monumental civic building flanked by a series of shops. The primary research questions relate to the layout and nature of the Early Islamic town center, and the IJP has taken a leading role in establishing the importance and prosperity of Jarash in the Early Islamic period. The seventh and eighth excavation seasons took place in August 2008 and May–June 2009, respectively. The following provides a brief account of the four main excavation areas, along with a note on new initiatives within the project.