Virtual World Project

Version 2.0

2011-12-13T06:09:00.001-08:00

In order for the Virtual World Project to be usable on iPads and other tablet computers, we are converting the project entirely to HTML5 and CSS3 (in other words, we are removing Flash at the main engine for displaying the panoramic movies). The project is also updated with a new, cleaner and more simple graphical interface so that navigation of archaeological sites will be easier and more intuitive. With over 170 photographed sites, this conversion and update will take some time. Progress on the new updated site can be viewed by clicking on the "2.0" link in the black navigation bar on the project's home page.

En Gedi

2010-10-24T17:56:00.001-07:00

En Gedi is a large oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea and the location of several archaeological sites. In addition to a Chalolithic temple (previously implemented on the Virtual World Project), a late Roman-Byzantine Jewish village with a synagogue has been uncovered. Several houses, workshops, storerooms, and a bath have been exposed in the northern part of the village. The workshops and numerous installations attest to the processing of balsam, which was perhaps the primary economic industry of the village.

Check out the village on the project.

Chalcolithic settlements in the Golan, now with Audio

2010-09-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

Explore the Golan during the Chalocolithic period (4500-3300 BCE) with the help of audio interpretation! No less than 25 sites representing the Chalcolithic period (4500-3300 BCE) have been discovered in the central Golan since 1973, all of which were surveyed and excavated under the supervision of the late Claire Epstein (1911-2000). These sites all shared a distinct culture and social structure, as evidenced by the architecture, which includes identical unfortified villages with chains of houses built of rectangular stones, as well as the artifacts, which include worked basalt pillars with a basin that were most likely used in sacred ritual contexts. We invite you to sample this culture by visiting Rasm Harbush and Daliyyot.

More Pre-Pottery Neolithic Audio!

2010-08-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Beidha, located in southern Jordan just north of Petra, is one of the most significant Neolithic sites in western Asia--if not the world! Once home to Neolithic semi-settled peoples and eventual villagers who participated in the invention of sedentary agriculture, Beidha provides valuable insight into the origins of modern society. We invite you to travel back nearly 9,000 years in order to walk among its now silent buildings that once bustled with human activity, accompanied by audio site interpretation!

Zeiraqun

2010-07-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

Zeiraqun is large Early Bronze city located on a high plateau overlooking the Wadi esh-Shallalah in northern Jordan. It covered an area approximately 300 by 400 meters and was surrounded by a large, 7 meter thick wall along its northern, western, and southern sides (the vertical wall of the wadi provided protection on its eastern side). The excavations focused on two areas. In the upper city, along the western wall, the excavators uncovered the main city gate, which gave entrance to a temple complex, and administrative center, and an industrial area. In the southwestern corner of the site, the excavators uncovered a postern gate and a residential area.

Zeiraqun is an important site because it is one of the largest Early Bronze cities in the southern Levant. The temple complex, with its adjacent adminstrative center, also has parallels with the Early Bronze temple complex at Megiddo.

New Audio Clips Posted for Pre-pottery Neolithic Sites in Jordan!

2010-05-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Come explore the fascinating Stone Age settlements at Basta and 'Ein Abu Nukhayla, located in southern Jordan, with the assistance of audio interpretation. Dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period (PPNB), ca. 8000-9600 years B.P. (ca. 6000-7600 yrs. BCE), these ancient stone dwellings witness to the daily lives of human beings in the earliest centuries following the invention of agriculture.

Stroll through Endangered Dolmen Fields, now with Audio!

2010-03-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Audio introduction is now available for the fascinating dolmen fields at al-Mureighat and Damiyeh in western Jordan. These ancient monuments to human culture have been standing for roughly 5,000 years, but today are being threatened with destruction by bulldozers from nearby quarrying operations. Help save the dolmens by calling attention to these irreplaceable world treasures and the fact that they remain vulnerable to local, modern expansion.

Umm Hadder

2009-12-30T13:52:00.000-08:00

Umm Hadder is a small Hellenistic fortress located along the Wadi al-Kufrayn, just north of the Kufrayn dam in Jordan. The fortress is approximately 40 by 30 meters in size and consists of rows of rooms around a central courtyard, with towers in each of its corners. A large well is located in the middle of the open courtyard.

Umm Hadder is one of several fortresses and many settlements along the Wadi al-Kufrayn during the Iron through the Hellenistic periods. The Wadi al-Kufrayn was probably one of the main access routes from the Jordan valley to the Ammonite plain.

Say good bye to QuickTime

2009-10-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Users might notice a changed format in some of the virtual tours. When Apple released its latest operating systems, Snow Leopard, it signaled that QuickTime would no longer support QTVR (the format of the panoramic and spherical images, which Apple pioneered) in future versions. Thus, we are converting all the QuickTime movies to Flash format. The downside is that this conversion will take a little time. No hurry. QuickTime will continue to have legacy support for QTVR in the foreseeable future, so users will be able to use the project with no interruption. The upside is that Flash is a better interface for QTVR movies. Users will especially appreciate Flash's "fullscreen" option. After a sufficient number of sites have been converted to Flash, we will change the help screens to highlight the differences in flash.

Murayghat

2009-09-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Murayghat, in the hills overlooking the Dead Sea, is an Early Bronze cult center. On small hill are numerous menhirs – standing stones – that characterized religious practices in the Levant for millennia. Many of the stones are arranged in rows, circles, and rectangles, and vary in size up to nearly 2 meters in height. Across the dry wadi on a larger hill facing the cult center is a large dolmen field, with many of the dolmens oriented toward the cult center. Unfortunately, many of the dolmens on the surrounding hills are being threatened by the nearby stone quarry.

Come and visit these megalithic structures of the Bronze Age.

Gamla

2009-09-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Gamla has been called the northern Masada. It was a small Judean village made famous by its “favorite son” Josephus, who led the resistance against the Roman legions, only to surrender to them and serve Vespasian. In addition to its role in the first Judean revolt, Gamla is also important as the location of an early synagogue.

Although included in the project for several years, Gamla was completely re-photographed during the 2009 season. It is well worth the visit.

Jericho

2009-08-31T08:26:00.000-07:00

Jericho is often referred to as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. The area in and around the modern city of Jericho is the home to several important archaeological sites, and none more significant than Tell es-Sultan, the site of “biblical” Jericho. At Tell es-Sultan, continuous settlement can be traced from the Neolithic period into the Late Bronze Age, approximately 6000 years. Subject to three large-scale excavations, Jericho has revealed much about ancient human cultures. Unfortunately, few finds from these excavations remain visible on the site.

Nevertheless, on a tour of ancient Jericho, one may see an impressive round stone tower from the earliest Neolithic period, the remains of an Early Bronze city wall, and some buildings of the Early and Middle Bronze period.

Chorazin

2009-08-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

Chorazin is a Byzantine and later village in the hills north of the Sea of Galilee. In the center of the village are a well preserved synagogue and several large courtyard buildings.

Chorazin was first photographed in 2003, but has recently been updated with many more new photographs. Stop by and take a look at the site.

Damiyah

2009-08-24T19:19:00.001-07:00

The Damiyah dolmen field is the largest such field in Jordan. Over 300 dolmens have been counted in the field which stretches along the eastern foothills in the Jordan valley. These dolmen are functioned as tombs 5000 years ago, during the Early Bronze I period. Unfortunately, many of the dolmens are being destroyed each year by the Travco company that is quarrying the valuable travertine stone in the field.

Stop by and see these endangered archaeological artifacts.

Mar Elias

2009-08-13T19:45:00.001-07:00

Mar Elias has been updated with new photographs from the 2009 season. Most notably, VR spots for inside the baptistry have been added to the project.

al-Mukhayyat

2009-08-08T13:56:00.001-07:00

Khirbet al-Mukhayyat is the location of ancient Nebo, famous for its view of the Jordan Valley and the death of Moses. Because of its association with the death of Moses, the site became an prominent pilgrim site during the Byzantine period. In the town of Nebo itself, largely unexcavated, four Byzantine period churches have been discovered, three of which are presented in the Virtual World Project. Unfortunately, the elaborate mosaics that decorated each of the churches have been removed and are thus no longer visible, but the churches themselves are worth the visit. Come and take a look.

Kursi

2009-07-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

Kursi, a monastery with a bath, church, and chapel on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, has been updated with new photographs from the 2009 season.

Rosh Zayit

2009-07-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

Rosh Zayit, and early Iron Age fort and settlement, has been updated with new photographs from the 2009 season.

Herodium

2009-07-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Herodium has been updated with new photos from the 2009 season. Especially noteworthy is the addition of Herod the Great's tomb, which is located midway down the mountain, beside the entrance stairway.

Tiberias

2009-07-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Tiberias has recently been updated by adding photos of the city's southern gate. The southern gate was excavated in 1973-1974, but was subsequently covered over to preserve it. Recently, the gate has been uncovered as part of the city's attempt to highlight its archaeological heritage.

If you have not yet visited Tiberias, it is well worth the trip. Now, with the addition of the southern gate, it is a must see.

Vered Yericho

2009-07-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Vered Yericho is a Judean fort that existed for a few decades before the Kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians. Little is known about the Iron Age settlement of the Jericho area other than this small fort (an unexcavated Iron Age site is located 3 kilometers to the north).

Stop by and explore the fort.

Ha-Ro‘a

2009-07-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

Ha-Ro‘a is just down the road from Haluqim (on which, see the previous post). Like Haluqim, this site has a large Negev-type “fortress” and a pillared house (5 room rather than 4 room) dating to the early Iron Age, possibly the tenth century BCE. The close proximity of these two contemporaneous “fortresses” is an indication, one among many, that they are not in fact fortresses. They are instead an early type of “Israelite” settlement.

Visit Ha-Ro‘a and compare it with Haluqim.

Haluqim

2009-07-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Haluqim, located in the central Negev, is a good example of an early Iron Age settlement with a so-called "Negev fortress." Two other houses and a Roman watch tower are also found at the site.

Haluqim was originally photographed in 2006 and went online shortly thereafter. The day on which it was photographed, however, was heavily overcast - a rare day in Israel. The site was thus re-photographed during the recent season in 2009 - on a beautiful sunny day. Moreover, many more spots at the site were photographed.

So, stop by and take a look at the new presentation of Haluqim.

Izbet Sartah

2009-07-03T17:45:00.001-07:00

Located at the western edge of the hill country, the settlement at Izbet Sartah experienced the clash of Israelite and Philistine cultures. With material culture similar to the hill country sites, Izbet Sartah attests to the fluctuations of the early Israelite settlement.

Izbet Sartah give evidence of three short-lived settlements from the twelfth to the tenth century BCE. Stratum II, which includes a large central four-room house and smaller four-room houses on the periphery, attests to the beginnings of stratification of wealth with an uneven distribution of silos.

Come and explore this important site for understanding the Israelite settlement.

Nimrod Fortress

2009-06-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

New spots at Nimrod Fortress was photographed during the 2009 season. Theses photos have now been added to the Virtual World Project’s presentation of the site. Especially noteworthy are new photos of the the eastern Towers 15 and 16, which were not previously photographed.

Ashkelon

2009-06-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

At 60 hectares, Ashkelon is one of the largest archaeological sites in Israel. It certainly was certainly inhabited for a long period of time: 6000 years, from the Chalcolithic to the Mameluke period.

Since 1985 Lawrence Stager of Harvard University has excavated the site for the Leon Levy Expedition. He has uncovered many significant remains and aspects of life at Ashkelon from the Middle Bronze through the Byzantine periods. Although many of the results of the excavations are no long visible, a Middle Bronze IIA gate – the earliest extant arched/barrel vaulted gate in the world – is well preserved. Also at the site are the remains of a Crusader rampart and a Byzantine church.

Tel Kabri

2009-06-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

In the early 1990s, the late Aharon Kempinski uncovered a monumental Middle Bronze palace with Aegean-style frescoes on the large mound of Tel Kabri. Renewed excavations under the direction of A. Yasur-Landau and Eric H. Cline are re-examining the palace as a way of exploring the Middle Bronze polity at Tel Kabri. Although the frescoes and the painted plastered floors are not visible at the site (they are protected with a sand and geo-textile covering), the plan and monumental character of the palace is evident.

Stop by and explore the palace for yourself.

Hajr al-Mansub

2009-06-15T15:06:00.001-07:00

Hajr al-Mansub is one of the most impressive menhirs (standing stones) in Jordan, located . Standing approximately 2.5 meters tall, this isolated menhir is associated with the Early Bronze ceremonial center and dolmen field at Murayghat, 1 kilometer to the west (the latter site has been photographed and will eventually be presented in the Virtual World Project too). Unfortunately, this menhir and the many monuments at Murayghat are in danger due to the expanding quarry nearby.

Stop by the Virtual World Project and marvel at this monument.

Ain Abu Nukhayla

2009-06-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ain Abu Nukhayla is a pre-pottery Neolithic B site in the Wadi Ramm. The small agricultural village consists of small, irregular, circular semi-subterranean huts, lined with undressed stones.

Ain Abu Nikhayla provides a good example of circular hut clusters that characterize the earlier parts of the PPNB period, which in many sites give way to rectangular houses in the latter part of the period (such as Beidha). Stop by and explore them.

Rasm Harbush

2009-06-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Rasm Harbush is a Chalcolithic settlement in the Golan made up of a series of row houses. On the eastern wall of the isolated House U, a dolmen was built after the settlement was no longer inhabited. Photographs of the dolmen have now been added to the Virtual World Project’s presentation of the site.

Khirbet Qeiyafa

2009-06-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

Khirbet Qeiyafa is famous for an early Hebrew inscription in the so-called "proto-Canaanite" script that was found in an early tenth century gate. But the archaeological remains are significant in their own right. Although only excavated for two seasons, Khirbet Qeiyafa has revealed a well-preserved early Iron IIA four-chamber gate with a casemate wall (700 meters long around the city) and two buildings (perhaps, dwellings) adjacent to the gate. The gate and wall are constructed from mammoth stones. In short, the fortified city with monumental gate and wall would be the earliest attestation of a centralized state for ancient Israel.

Come and visit this newly added important site in the Virtual World Project.

2009 Season

2009-06-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

The VWP team (Ron Simkins, Nicolae Roddy, and Alexandra Untu) just returned from its 2009 photography season in Jordan and Israel. Twenty seven new archaeological sites were photographed in Jordan and twelve new archaeological sites were photographed in Israel. In addition, new photographs were taken at nineteen previously photographed sites in Israel.

These newly photographed sites will soon be incorporated into the project; check with this blog for regular updates.

Emmaus

2009-05-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Revered as the site on the road to where the resurrected Jesus appeared to two of his disciples, Emmaus is the site of a Templar church built on top of a large Byzantine church. Earlier remains of a Roman villa, Roman tombs, and a well preserved Roman bath are also found on the site.

The presentation of the site has been updated on the Virtual World Project, and you are invited to stop by and take a tour.

Qasr al-Hallabat

2009-05-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

Qasr Hallabat began as a Castellum fortifying the border of the Limes Arabicus during the Late Roman period. Located approximately 12 kilometers from the Via Nova Trajana, the fort was probably associated with a large reservoir and several houses to form an agricultural village. The fort was rebuilt and expanded several times, ending up as a Quadriburgium in the Byzantine period. During the Umayyad period, when the military function of the building was no longer needed, the fortress was transformed into a desert residential palace and decorated with mosaics, mural paintings, and stucco panels. A mosque was built adjacent to the fortress and a bath was built nearby at Hammam al-Sarah.

When you travel to the desert, stop by and explore this wonderful site.

Tell Jawa (South)

2009-04-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

The Ammonites are known primarily from the biblical text, and little information is found here. Archaeology is beginning to change the situation. Tell Jawa is one of a few excavated sites with extensive Ammonite remains (see also the nearby site of Tell Umayri). The site preserves a gate building, a casemate wall, and several houses, which differ from contemporary Israelite houses. The site is not well known and has not been preserved for visitors. Nevertheless, the remains are in relatively good shape and will give the visitor a good impression of an Ammonite village.

Stop by and explore this little known site.

Audio interpretation available for Nimrod Fortress

2009-04-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

We invite you now to take the audio tour of Nimrod Fortress, the largest and best preserved castle anywhere in Israel and the Syro-Palestinian region. Better known in medieval chronicles as Qal‘at as-Subayba, this majestic fortress sits perched on a high ridge in the foothills below Mt. Hermon overlooking the Hula Valley and the road to Damacus. This site will be of special interest to researchers of the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods.

Hammam as-Sarah

2009-03-25T19:22:00.001-07:00

This is the site of an isolated Umayyad bath complex similar to the complex at ‘Amra in Jordan. The complex was in a good state of preservation until the 1950s, when its blocks were pilfered for nearby constructions. Today, only the core of the bath remains, partially restored by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan.

Al-Fedein

2009-03-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

A sixth century Syrian manuscript describes al-Fedein as the southern most monophysite monastery in Syria, but the excavations have revealed much more. The Byzantine monastery is built within the cyclopean walls of an earlier Aramean fortress. Next to the fortress is a Umayyad palace with a bath and mosque. Further east is an Abbasid khan that served pilgrims on the Hajj to Mecca.

Come explore this interesting site hidden away in the middle of the modern city of Mafraq, Jordan.

Khirbet el-Minya

2009-02-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

Located on the Ginnosaur plain along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Khirbet el-Minya is the ruin of a Umayyad palace wrapped in mystery. Its builder and history are largely unknown. Apparently, the palace was used for a short time during the Umayyad period and then again in the Mameluke period (to which some of the remains can be dated).

Khirbat al-Mafjar

2009-02-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

Khirbat al-Mafjar has recently been updated.

Khirbat al-Mafjar is an elaborate palace that has traditionally be associated with the caliph Hisham’s palace, but more likely was built by his nephew el-Walid. The only part of the palace that was completed, interrupted due to el-Walid’s assassination, is the bath, with a large pool that served as the frigidarium. An unfinished mosque is also associated with the palace.

Tulul Abu al-Alayiq

2009-02-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Along the Wadi Qelt in Jericho, this site is where the Hasmonian kings and Herod the Great built their winter palaces to escape the cool, damp winters in Jerusalem. Beginning with John Hyrcanus I (or perhaps with his father Simeon), the Hasmonean kings established a royal estate, growing and processing dates and balsam. A large palace, built through seven stages was built at the southern end of the estate. Adjacent to the palace is perhaps the earliest surviving synagogue.

Herod the Great choose the same area for his three palaces. The first palace was built to the south of the Wadi Qelt and is not included in the virtual tour of the site. The second palace was built near the Hasmonean palace and incorporated some of its remains into it. The third palace was Herod's most ambitious and it bridges the Wadi Qelt. Unfortunately, most of the southern extension of the palace is not longer visible.

Hatzeva and Mar Elias

2009-01-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

Two sites in the Virtual World Project have recently been updated. Mar Elias is large, five-aisle church and monastery in Jordan near the traditional home town of the prophet Elijah.

Hatzeva is a series of fortresses in the Arabah, south of the Dead Sea. Many new photos were added to this site.

Kallirrhoë

2009-01-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Kallirrhoë is located at the hot springs of ‘Ain ez-Zara on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. Herod the Great built a palace along the shore and visited the site just before his death. A smaller Byzantine villa was built over the ruins of Herod’s palace, and the site appears on the mosaic Madaba map. Although poorly preserved, enough of the foundations remain to give the visitor a clear representation of the plan of the place.

Nitl

2009-01-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

Nitl is the home of the ecclesiastical complex of Saint Serguis, a double church and chapel belonging to the Banu Ghassan, Arab foederati (mercenaries) of the Byzantine empire. The town is located a short distance from Madaba in central Jordan and provides new information for understanding the Banu Ghassan.

Qastal

2009-01-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Built along the pilgrimage road from Damascus to Mecca, this Umayyad palace has not fared so well over the years. In fact, a large modern house was built over the ruins of the northeastern quarter of the palace. But recently, the Department of Antiquities has cleaned up the site and glimpses of its once grand appearance are now possible.

Come and visit the site, and imagine the grandeur of previous era.

Ain es-Sil

2009-01-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

Once thought to be a Roman period fort, this so-called “desert castle” is a Umayyad period farmstead. It consists of a main building, with several of the rooms devoted to agricultural production, a bath suite, and little-understood subsidiary buildings.

Come take a visit to this small site in eastern Jordan.

Hayyam al-Mushref

2009-01-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

Hayyam al-Mushref is a largely unexcavated Byzantine and later town in northern Jordan. Numerous churches have been identified, and the main church - the cathedral - has been excavated and is included this the Virtual World Project. When you visit the church, note the preserved mosaics on the bema and the baptisimal font in the baptistry.

Gamla Dolmen Field

2008-12-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

On a high plateau in the middle of the Golan is a large dolmen field. These mysterious megalithic structures, constructed as large stone tables, probably served as tombs during the Early Bronze age. Most dolmens, here and elsewhere, were disturbed in antiquity and thus have not been excavated. Nevertheless, such structures stir the imagination.

Mshatta

2008-11-16T20:20:00.000-08:00

From your airplane window as you arrive at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan, you may get a glimpse of the largest and best preserved Umayyad palace in Jordan. Mshatta was built by the caliph Walid II, but was never finished, probably due to the Abbasid rebellion and his assassination. Nevertheless, what was completed has survived well, and its main building presents the common form of palatial units in the Umayyad palaces.

Take a "flight" to Jordan and tour this marvelous palace.

Azraq

2008-11-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

Once isolated at an oasis in the middle of the eastern desert, the Azraq fortress is now surrounded by a Druze village. The fortress was built during the Late Roman period was continuously occupied through the late Islamic period. Although it has not be excavated, the ruins have been stablized and is one of the best preserved Roman fortresses in Jordan.

Hammat Tiberias

2008-10-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

South of the city of Tiberias, a suburb developed around a hot spring. The village came to be known as Hammat, today Hammat Tiberias, and it shared much of the same history as Tiberias. Inside the southern gate of the village, excavators have discovered several superimposed synagogues with beautiful mosaic floors. Come and take a look.

Horvat ‘Ethri

2008-09-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Although online for some time, Horvat ‘Ethri has been updated with an introduction and new VR movies. Horvat ‘Ethri is a small Judean village in the upper Shephelah that presents a good picture of Judean life from the period of the two Judean revolts. Hidden beneath the typical courtyard-style houses are caverns cut into the bedrock that were used as hiding places during the revolts. The site also includes a public building that has been interpreted as an early example of a synagogue.

Tiberias

2008-09-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Tiberias was established by Herod Antipas and named after his patron Tiberius around 19 CE. From that time, it grew to be the major Roman city in the Galilee and the center of the late Byzantine Jewish community. Despite its historical importance, the ruins and excavations at Tiberias have not received the attention that they deserve. Fortunately that is changing. The state of Israel recently has made a commitment to showcase the ancient city of Tiberias.

In the virtual tour of Tiberias you can visit some of the prominent parts of the ancient city. From the church on Mt. Berenice, overlooking the ancient and modern town, to the basilica by the sea; from the marketplace – both Byzantine and Abbasid – to the large bath, you can get a vivid perspective of life in ancient Tiberias. Come take a look.

Zohar

2008-09-24T06:58:00.001-07:00

Zohar is a small Byzantine fortress on a road leading out of the Dead Sea. It shares much of the same history as the nearby fortress at ‘En Boqeq, though it has not been preserved as well.

Abu Ghosh

2008-09-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Abu Ghosh is the home of a well preserved Crusader church. Built by the Order of St. John (the Hospitallers), the church is located where the Crusaders believed the New Testament village of Emmaus to be located. We now know that Emmaus is further east (you can also visit it in the Virtual World Project).

While you visit the church, make sure to inspect its many well-preserved paintings on the church walls.

Aqua Bella

2008-09-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Aqua Bella appears to be a manor built by the Order of St. John (the Hospitallers) for its aged, sick, and wounded knights. Although the site has been online for some time, it has recently been updated with additional VRs.

Yehiam

2008-09-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Yehiam castle in northern Israel is known as Judin in the historical record and was a sister castle of the Teutonic Knights to the nearby Montfort castle. Although short lived, the castle was later rebuilt during the eighteenth century and was utilized by Israelis during the War of Independence.

Enjoy the scenic views from this castle, and see if you can distinguish the various periods of rebuilding in this otherwise unstudied castle.

Hunin castle and Beth Yerah

2008-09-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hunin castle, known as Chateau Neuf in the historical record, is poorly preserved and never excavated, but it has one of the best examples of a dry moat, which protects its northern site. From the castle one gets a beautiful view of the Hulah valley below and the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Hermon in the distance.

Bet Yerah is better known for its Early Bronze granary, but unfortunately that structure is no longer visible. What has been preserved on the site is a typical basilical church.

Get out your passport, pack your bags, and take a tour of these two new sites in the project.

Khan al-Ahmar

2008-09-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

Khan al-Ahmar, hidden away in the small industrial area of Mishor Adummim along the Jerusalem - Jericho road, is the monastery of Euthymius, one of the most important Judean monasteries of the Byzantine period. At the core of the monastery, a probably the oldest surviving part, is the crypt in which Euthymius himself was buried.

Take a visit to Khan al-Ahmar and get a glimpse of early monastic Christianity.

Montfort

2008-09-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

The castle is poorly preserved thanks to Baybars who encouraged his troops to dismantle it. Nevertheless, Montfort was the main castle for the Knights of the Teutonic Order, and the castle has perhaps one of the most scenic settings in Israel. Come and visit this new addition to the project.

Umm al-Walid

2008-09-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

On the edge of the eastern desert in central Jordan is the rarely visited site of Umm al-Walid. Although much of the ancient site still lies in ruin awaiting excavation and perhaps restoration, a Umayyad Qasr and Mosque have been excavated and preserved. Take a stroll across the qasr's well-paved courtyard and spend the night in one of its residential rooms or barracks. Although labelled a "qasr" - that is, a fortress - this qasr probably functioned as a khan.

A second qasr has also been excavated, but has not seen any preservations activities and is thus more difficult to discern. It is worth the visit, nevertheless.

Explore the Arad Fortress!

2008-09-04T15:38:00.001-07:00

Now you can take an audio tour of the Arad Fortress! As with many of our other sites, in addition to a detailed site description, significant interpretational differences are presented as well. Enjoy!

More Audio Tours Available!

2008-08-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

In a burst of creative teamwork we are proud to announce the addition of three new Audio Tours that will guide you through the sites of Aphek (Late Bronze through Turkish periods!); Tel Gezer (Middle Bronze through Iron II); and Lachish (Late Bronze through Iron II)! We invite you to take the tours and hope you will find them to be enjoyable as well as informative!

Nimrod Fortress

2008-08-22T20:17:00.001-07:00

Nimrod Fortress is the largest and best preserved castle in Israel (located on a high ridge in the foothills of Mt. Hermon). Unfortunately, we know little about the castle due to the lack of a full scale excavation across the site and a confusion in the literature between this castle and the nearby castle at Banias. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful site to visit and explore its many towers and keep.

Now Take the Ein Feshka Audio Tour!

2008-08-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

For anyone interested in Khirbet Qumran, the site most associated with the discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a visit to nearby Ein Feshka is essential. The physical association of these two sites within the greater context of the western bank of the Dead Sea raises serious questions for the traditional Essene-Qumran hypothesis. Listen to the audio tour and study the virtual reality movies for yourself to see just how complicated archaeology can be!

Ashdod-Yam

2008-08-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

The virtual tour of Ashdod-Yam, along the southern coast of Israel, has been put online. The castle at Ashdod-Yam has been a long neglected site, and due to disturbances, the construction phases of the castle are difficult to discern (during the period from the Umayyad through the Crusader periods). Nevertheless, the castle is in a beautiful setting along the Mediterranean coast, and the walls of the castle are preserved to a substantial height, leaving a good impression of the site.

Khirbet Qumran Audio Tour

2008-08-12T05:03:00.000-07:00

You can now take a guided audio tour of Khirbet Qumran! The narration focuses on the architecture of the site and some of the scholarly debates over its interpretation. By the way, in the VR movies you can see some of the caves where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found, including the beautiful double-cavity Cave 4, which yielded over half the total number of Dead Sea documents. So be sure to check it out!

Udhruh

2008-08-09T19:21:00.001-07:00

The large Roman fortress at Udhruh in southern Jordan has been put online. This site has been extensively damaged and neglected over the years, so that only a few towers and part of the perimeter wall remain visible. To get a good view of the size of the fortress, check out the satelite image from Google Earth (figure 11).

Two new sites

2008-08-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Two new, very different sites have recently been put online. In the south of Jordan, Ain Jammam consists of two different settlements: a Neolithic village and a Byzantine farmstead. In the north of Jordan, the Ajlun castle was used during the Crusader period.

Audio Tours

2008-07-21T16:08:00.001-07:00

One of the latest enhancements to the Virtual World Project has been the addition of interpretive audio clips. In Jordan, check out Qsar Bshir, Buseirah, Iraq al-Amir, and Ramm. In Israel, visit the Caves of Amud, Bethsaida, En Gedi, En Gev, Gush Halav, Hadar, Herodium, Khirbet Shema, and Meiron. Watch for Khirbet Qumran to be posted soon!

Focus on Syria-Palestine

2008-07-21T11:43:00.001-07:00

Focus of the Virtual World Project is Syria-Palestine - the present-day countries of Israel, Jordan, and Syria - which is the area of academic interest of the project's directors. Many sites in Israel and Jordan have been photographed and incorporated into the project. Sites in Syria are scheduled to be photographed in the future.

In 2002, early in the project's history, a number of sites were photographed in Greece and Turkey, and they continue to be available as "legacy sites" on the project.

New additions in Jordan

2008-07-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

The virtual tours for Amman, Petra, Dhat Ras, Dharih, and Lehun in Jordan have recently been added to the Virtual World Project.