INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS

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Visas, Customs, Etc.
Travel to Jordan is relatively easy, safe and citizens of some countries, such as Canada and the United States, are able to get inexpensive Visas right at Queen Alia Airport when they arrive in the country. All project members should check with the Jordanian embassy in their own country as per their specific regulations-depending on citizenship, some people may be able to purchase multi-year visas. When you arrive, the immigration officials will stamp your passport with a two-week visa, and give you a small card to place in your passport. DO NOT LOSE THIS CARD. This two-week visa will require you to contact the Jordanian police within two weeks of your arrival. We will handle all these police registrations for the project after you arrive with the help of our Dept. of Antiquities Representative. If you plan an extended stay in Jordan, your visa will have to be renewed after three months. You will be responsible for any special visa extensions you require beyond the project's completion. For further information about Jordanian Visas please contact your local Embassy of Jordan.
If you are planning to travel in Syria while you are in the area, you MUST obtain your Syrian visa while in your home country. Syrian visas are no longer issued by the Syrian Embassy in Amman. If you have the time and money, it is definitely worth it to travel up to Syria and see Damascus, Aleppo, and some truly amazing archaeological sites. It is very easy to get to Syria, with buses and service taxis traveling every day but Friday between Amman and Damascus. [We strongly encourage you to schedule in travel time around Jordan before or after the season--Jordan is an amazing place, with an enormous amount to see and do for visitors]. If you have been traveling in Israel previously, and you have Israeli stamps on your passport, you will need to get a new passport (or ask to have the Passport Agency give you a new, "clean" one). This will allow you to travel to Syria, and may make crossing the border between countries easier.
When you arrive at Queen Alia Airport, you should have nothing to declare, as the equipment and supplies you bring with you are either personal, expendable, or destined to be taken out of Jordan again. Once you have your visa stamped and have picked up your luggage, then head for the green "Nothing to Declare" aisle on your way out of the baggage area. Often a customs official will stop you for a spot check, but these are very quick and usually just a formality. If, for some unheard of reason you are asked to pay duty on something (by the way, we have never heard of this happening), and are unable to talk your way out of it (always argue in the Middle East), pay the duty but make sure you get a receipt--we will want to try to recovery the duty later.
You may want to invest in a travel guide to Jordan, and to any other countries that you plan to visit. The Lonely Planet guidebook series offers good solid guidebooks that will explain the basics of travel to any area, and there are several other companies that provide similar guides. Many of these guidebooks vary depending upon the budget of the traveler, so if you decide to get a guide, make sure it is tailored to your financial situation and concerns.

What to Bring with You:
Participants in the project are expected to bring with them all personal items they may need while they are away, including appropriate clothing and necessary medication. In May, June and July, the daytime temperatures on the Jordan Valley and Kerak Plateau will be hot (30-45 C or 80-110 degrees F). We will also be visiting archaeological sites in the valley, and that will be even hotter (110 degrees +, depending on the time of day). As such, shorts, and small t-shirts are not acceptable. Nighttime temperatures, especially in May and early June, can be surprisingly cool (15-25 C or 50-75 F). You might want to visit your local Salvation Army and get some long-sleeved, men's light cotton button-down shirts, whose sleeves can be rolled up or down, and light, cotton pants with pockets to hold your trowel and other small items while working in the field. It may seem strange to you, but wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts will insulate you against the heat (yes, it can get that hot). We also recommend that you bring some sort of canteen to carry your own supply of water while in the field, and a hat to keep the sun off your head. Sunstroke is a serious issue here, and the senior staff will be encouraging you to drink a lot of water and to be properly outfitted to avoid such a situation. For fieldwork, footwear should include leather or heavy canvas boots, preferably covering and supporting the ankle.
When packing your clothing, always remember that what you bring, you must be able to carry. Take a minimalist approach to packing, and try to fit everything you need into one medium-sized bag. You should pack one nice outfit for "special occasions" (parties, dinners out, etc), some clothes to wear when not in the field, and your field clothes. You will be able to do your laundry while in the field, and so you don't need to bring a tremendous amount of clothing. Our space in the truck will be tight, and so we need to make sure that we don't bring too much luggage.
Since you will be excavating you will be expected to bring some small tools with you. Bring your "lucky" trowel, such as a 5-inch Marshalltown trowel (you may have to order this from Forestry Suppliers or a masonry supply company), and a small kit with a line level, small (1. 5 inch) paintbrush, and 3-m measuring tape (most of these items can be found in your local hardware store), and any other equipment that you like to have in your own personal dig kit. It's also a good idea to bring a Swiss Army knife, or some equivalent, with you (it's always good to have a knife with you in the field). We will have some of these things in project supplies, but they often get lost or broken, and can be difficult to replace in Jordan. The project will supply most of your basic equipment, such as larger tools, drawing boards or clip boards, writing materials, recording forms and notebook paper, rulers and larger measuring tapes. You're also going to need to bring a small day-pack to carry your equipment and water while we are out in the field.
Bring any medication you or your doctor think you may need while you are away from home, including sunscreen, bee kit (if you are allergic to bees), anti-diarrhea medication, etc. Get advice from your doctor or the travel Inoculation Clinic about what you may need. A number of miscellaneous items you will find useful include a flashlight, sunglasses, extra soap, shampoo, and a camera and lots of film. You will also want to bring some money in case you need to hire a taxi, do any traveling, shopping, or beer-drinking. Crew members will be responsible for their own weekend travel arrangements, weekend travel costs, and the costs of alcoholic beverages. Typically we post a list on the beer refrigerator where crew members can register the number of beer they drink, and pay for it later. There are many places you can change money in Jordan, including a bank and an ATM at the airport.