Diving the Dead Sea: Archaeological Investigation of Kallirhoe

About the lecture:
In collaboration with the Department of Antiquities, the American Center of Research conducted a brief season of survey and exploratory excavation at the Dead Sea port site of Kallirhoe (modern ‘Ain ez-Zara) in fall 2023. The port, which served the citadel of Machaerus (Mukawer), dates from at least as early as the Hasmonaean period (1st century BCE), and its springs appear on the Madaba map (6th century CE). This brief illustrated lecture describe the work performed on land and underwater as we sought to better understand the site through archaeology - including the first in-person underwater survey ever done in the Dead Sea, which presented logistical challenges and encountered unexpected conditions.
About the Speakers:
Prof. Pearce Paul Creasman became executive director of the American Center of Research in February 2020, having come from the University of Arizona where he was a professor and curator starting in 2009 with a focus on the heritage, archaeology, and environment of the Middle East and North Africa. Starting in 2012, he served as director of the University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition. He has worked in several countries in the region, his most recent archaeological project being directing the excavations at the pyramids and royal necropolis of Nuri, Sudan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dr. Creasman’ s formal training includes a PhD and MA in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University, as well as graduate certifications in conservation and heritage preservation. He holds a BA from the University of Maine in anthropology and philosophy. With more than 100 publications to his credit, Dr. Creasman has been recognized for his work by several institutions, including the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, and as a fellow of The Explorer’s Club and the Royal Geographic Society, and he was honored as a “Genius” in National Geographic’s 2021 almanac. You can find more information at pearcepaul.com and many of his publications at acorjordan.academia.edu/PearcePaulCreasman
Aktham Oweidi is the technical assistant for the director general of the Department of Antiquities and earned a master's degree in archaeology from the University of Jordan. With more than thirty years of experience in the national antiquities sector, he has held various positions, including director of the Department of Excavations and Surveys. He is an expert in combating the illegal trafficking and forgery of antiquities at both local and international levels and is a member of the committee of the 16th International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan. He has managed several local projects and served as a co-director for international projects with the department. Additionally, he is an editor for the Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (ADAJ). He has numerous published articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented extensively at both local and international conferences.