Celebrating a World Heritage Site and 50 Years of Partnership
Courtesy: The Umm Al-Jimal Archaeological Project
In the early 1970s, the 2,000-year-old ruins of the village of Umm Al-Jimal in northern Jordan were unknown to most of the world. In the summer of 2024, the site became a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. With this significant distinction, the ruins now have an international platform.
The journey to this point started with a single visit. In 1972, the late Bert de Vries, a history professor at Calvin College at the time, did an architectural survey of the ancient ruins. Over the next half century, he collaborated with the local people and municipalities to map, maintain, and make the ruins more accessible. Over the next four decades, the expanding dig, which became known as the Umm Al-Jimal Project, gave hundreds of Calvin students the opportunity to learn archaeology firsthand and to work side-by-side with local Jordanians in studying and preserving these ancient ruins.
Taking Significant Steps
“We are grateful that Calvin allowed Bert the time to develop what I call a covenantal relationship with the people of Umm al-Jimal,” said Darrell Rohl, director of the archaeology program at Calvin University. “To reach this magnificent milestone of the site achieving UNESCO status is a testament to the ongoing collaboration among the many partners in Jordan. And we credit Bert and his wife Sally for their faithfulness in nurturing these relationships over the years.”
UNESCO World Heritage sites are recognized by a rigorous international selection process for having “outstanding universal value.” Other sites on this list include Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal, and the Grand Canal of Venice. Sites on this prestigious list draw more tourists as well as additional protections against commercial development.
Celebrating a Shared Commitment
On November 18, 2024, Calvin University will honor this milestone in cultural heritage and international collaboration during the Umm Al-Jimal UNESCO World Heritage Site Celebration on campus. The daylong public event has an international guest list, including the mayor of Umm-al Jimal, the director of museums for the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, and the former postmaster general of Jordan, to name a few.
“This event commemorates this remarkable achievement and allows the Calvin University community an opportunity to congratulate the Jordanian people and thank the many partners involved in this 50-year journey,” said Rohl. “We also are excited to showcase the interdisciplinary research that has been a hallmark of the Umm Al-Jimal Archaeological Project and to reaffirm our commitment to continuing this legacy.”
The day of celebration in the Prince Conference Center will highlight partnership, perseverance, and the shared commitment to preserving global heritage for future generations. The event will feature a daylong visual exhibit that brings to life the rich history of Umm Al-Jimal through artifacts and interactive displays and public presentations on the project’s diverse research initiatives. A 4:00 keynote address will be followed by a ceremony where Calvin officials and distinguished guests will discuss the significance of Umm Al-Jimal’s contribution to world heritage.
Continuing to Collaborate
“We are excited to recognize more than a half century of presence and partnership that has come in various forms over the years. This sustained engagement reflects the spirit and ethos of Calvin’s adventuresome scholarship, learning, and posture of humility when engaging in partnership in the world,” said Noah Toly, provost of Calvin University. “We have an ongoing commitment to support the Jordanian people and government as they steward the future of Umm Al-Jimal as a UNESCO Heritage site.”
Darrell Rohl is pursuing further research with the Umm Al-Jimal project as a Fulbright scholar in Jordan this academic year. This new research involves 3-D laser scanning of the nearly 200 ancient structures at Umm Al-Jimal, which will create the most precise and accurate three-dimensional understanding of the ancient ruins as they currently exist.
Rohl says the scanning is allowing him to get down to 15-millimeter resolution, whereas most of the current archaeological drawings aren’t even at the 1-meter resolution in terms of accuracy.
Rohl hopes to showcase the beginnings of this work during the event on November 18.
“There’s this deep emotional feeling you get when you see this place and walk through it,” said Rohl. “I hope that this 3-D scanning we do serves as a means to allure people to this site, to engage with the community, and in so doing experience an emotional connection that everyone who comes here feels.”
