Prof. Sahar al Khasawneh

Department of Conservation and Management of Cultural Resources

Work: +962 2 7211111   Ext. 4272    

skhasswneh@yu.edu.jo

skhasswneh@gmail.com

Professional Summary

I specialize in applied sciences within Archaeology and Geoarchaeology, actively contributing to national and international projects aimed at advancing scientific infrastructure in Jordan and enhancing human capacity in the characterization and conservation of cultural heritage. My work includes securing prestigious awards and grants, such as the Newton-Khalidi Award, which funded the establishment of a Petrography Lab in the Wadi Faynan Museum, and project grant from Ministry of Higher Education which funded the establishment of  the first Luminescence Dating Laboratory in Jordan and Arab world.

I am the natioal counter pat for several IAEA projects that are designed to support the use of nuclear techniques in the characterization and conservation of Jordanian cultural heritage, and provide instrumentation and training workshops for archaeologists, scientists, and technicians.

As a co-investigator, I have contributed to projects funded by The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, focusing on the investigation and conservation of ancient hydrological systems, including the Petra terraces and the Gadara aqueduct. My published research explores advancements in archaeological and geochronology methods, with a particular focus on rock-surface burial dating—a cutting-edge field. My work has enabled the first direct dating of significant archaeological features in Jordan, including megalithic structures, earthquake damage, catastrophic debris flows that impacted Neolithic communities, and water management systems essential to Petra's ancient societies.

My research also emphasizes the analytical and characterization study of artifacts using advanced nuclear techniques, such as synchrotron-based methods. Additionally, I actively mentor graduate students, fostering their engagement in technologically-driven research areas, such as laser scanning of archaeological sites and the development of software for museum education programs. My efforts aim to integrate technological innovation into the study and preservation of cultural heritage.

Editorial board member

• Archaeometry Journal, Impact factor 1.9 (Q1)
• Ancient TL

 Coordinating International Project

• RAS1021: Harnessing Nuclear Science and Technology for the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage. IAEA, Vienna, Austria.
• RAS1025: Enhancing the capabilities for radiocarbon dating in archaeological applications. IAEA, Vienna, Austria
• RAS 1027: Improving the Utilization of Nuclear Techniques for Cultural Heritage Characterization, Consolidation, and Preservation. IAEA, Vienna, Austria 

Organizer

1. Workshop for faculty members “SESAME facility for characterization of cultural heritage”, Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, Yarmouk University 2020.
2. Training course for students “Survey in Archaeology “, Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, March 2018.
3. Regional training course “From Excavation site to Museum” August 2023, As-Salt, Jordan.
4. Wining to hold the international conference LED 2026 in Amman, Jordan “Luminescence and ESR Dating.”