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Next it was off to the black basalt columns of Umm Qais, but not, of course, without a bit of a run-around first. After happening upon a bus to the awful, awful city of Irbid, we intended to catch another bus to our hostel in Umm Qais. Instead, an opportunistic Jordanian man attempted to drive [...]

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The Quarryscapes project started in 2005 and is now almost finished … The project is basically an effort to study and raise awareness about ancient quarries in the eastern Mediterranean area. In this context, we in Jordan studied ancient Bronze aged quarries in the Jafr area, Nabatean quarries in Petra and Roman quarries in Jerash. In the upcoming meeting, I will present some of our work in Jerash.

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Known as “The City of Mosaics,” Madaba has in the past provided this former alter boy with a very special treat – the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Blessed with many wonderful icons, but greater historical value – a vivid sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other sites in the Holy Land. So it was with much joy that I read in yesterday’s Jordan Times that …

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Note to ancient history and/or religious tourism buffs, don’t forget to visit Umm el-Jimal while in Jordan – a historic site of rich in Byzantine and early Islamic whose black basalt construction presents a photo-ready demonstration of “Haurinte architecture.”

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