Season Sixteen (2023) Information
With fifteen excavation seasons completed, TeHEP is now focusing on
critical goals: unearthing Sodom’s Middle Bronze Age palace and acropolis
fortifications. Season Fifteen was remarkable. Season Sixteen in 2023 looks
like it will be just as amazing!
Season Sixteen (2023) Dates
Front Team (selected staff & alumni only): Monday, January 16
Eight Excavation Weeks: Sundays through Thursdays
- Week One: January 22–26
- Week Two: January 29–February 2
- Week Three: February 5–9
- Week Four: February 12–16
- Week Five: February 19–23
- Week Six: February 26–March 2
- Week Seven: March 5–March 9
- Week Eight: March 12–March 16
Wrap Team (selected staff & alumni only): March 20–22 (variable departures)
Important Note: only 55 volunteer slots per week are available for Season Sixteen (2023)
Field Trips: See Field Trip page below.
Season Sixteen (2023) Costs
(no sign-ups after 15 August 2022)
Participation Fee
A participation fee is required for all volunteers. This cost helps with the processing of security forms
and individual excavation fees paid to the Jordan Department of Antiquities, excavation-related
expenses, lunches on dig days, daily transportation on dig days, transportation on field trips, and per
diems for our site’s DoA representatives.
Due to more stringent DoA policies now in effect, the deadline for the 2022 participation fee and all
volunteer forms is 15 August 2022. Additionally, a cancellation on your part will incur a $250 processing
fee deducted from the participation fee refund.
For each dig week there are 55 volunteer slots available. These slots will be filled on a first-come-first served basis. When you sign up (by paying the participation fee) you must choose your dig week(s)
within 7 days by contacting Dr Glenda Austin by phone (505-332-4253) or by email ([email protected]). If you fail to do this, your name will automatically be moved to the end of the list. You must
also have your dig paperwork and security form in the TSU office within 30 days of paying the
participation fee. If you fail to do this, your name will be moved to the end of the list.
So, you must do three things to be a volunteer in Season Sixteen: first, pay your participation fee;
second, declare your dig weeks within 7 days; third, have your paperwork and security form on Dr
Austin’s desk within 30 days.
Sign-Up/Participation Fee, Early Registration Discount (must be paid by 28 June 2022)
*Students and TeHEP Alumni: $600
All Others: $775.
Sign-Up/Participation Fee (after 28 June 2022)
*Students and TeHEP Alumni: $775
All Others: $975.
*“Student” is any undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student actively enrolled in an academic
program at an approved educational institution.
Hotel Costs
All effort will be made to match you with a roommate if you request a double room and ask us to arrange
a roommate for you. But remember, if we arrange a roommate for you, changes cannot be made once
the dig season starts. There are always inherent problems rooming with someone you don’t know well.
Also, it’s possible that no roommate will be available. In this case, you will have to book a single room.
Given that problems with roommates do arise, we strongly recommend getting a single room if you can
afford it (the single room price is fantastic, especially since it includes full breakfast and dinner at a 5-
star resort!). If you want or need a double-room situation, we suggest that you recruit your own
roommate to come dig with you.
For Season Sixteen we’re moving our headquarters back to the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort & Spa
(our home for the first 8 dig seasons), which is just a 15-minute drive from Tall el-Hammam. The
Movenpick Dead Sea is truly a destination experience in-and-of itself. We’re excited about returning to
our original home away from home in Jordan. You’re going to love it!
Hotel costs include daily breakfasts and dinners, plus free wifi, and other perks provided to our Team.
(Rates include all taxes and lodging fees, so that the US dollar total per night is as given below.) Your
hotel stay must be booked by Dr Glenda Austin through TeHEP in order to receive our special rate.
Call Glenda (505-332-4253), with credit card at the ready, and she’ll make your reservation for you.
Single Daily Rate: $107.
Double Daily Rate: $67. (per person in a double room with a roommate)
Travel Costs
All travel arrangements and costs to and from Jordan and the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort & Spa are
at your own expense and arrangement. Please plan to arrive either 1-2 days before the dig week
beginning each Sunday. The visa entry into Jordan is 40JD, payable only in dinars at your point of
entry. There are several currency exchange offices in the airport customs area.
Additional Costs
A 3JD tip per person is suggested each day for the bus driver, and is collected each week by a member
of the dig staff. You will need money for weekend lunches (Fridays and Saturdays), taxis to the stores,
restaurants, local museums, etc. You can have your laundry done by the hotel for a very reasonable
price—1JD per: pair of pants or shirt; 5 pairs of socks; 5 pairs of underwear.
Season Sixteen Field Trips
Volunteers will pay for their own entry fees, lunches, and transportation tips
(Note: entry fees are approximate as they are taken from 2022 costs)
Week One: 22 January—26 January
Friday, 27 January – (12JD) Bethany beyond Jordan (Baptism Site); (3JD) Machaerus (Herod’s
Palace and location of John the Baptist’s beheading)
Saturday, 28 January – Amman – (5JD) Jordan Museum; (2JD) Roman Amphitheater; shopping in
al Balad (downtown area); grocery store stop on the way out of town
Week Two: 29 January—2 February
Friday, 3 February – Petra (50JD)
Saturday, 4 February – (3JD) Umm ar-Rasas (mosaics); Madaba (2JD) Byzantine mosaic map;
(3JD) Madaba Archaeological park, shopping; (3JD) Mount Nebo (Moses’ view of the Promised
Land); grocery store stop on way out of town
Week Three: 5 February—9 February
Friday, 10 February – (10JD) Jerash (Gerasa); (3JD) Ajloun Castle (12th C Islamic Castle)
Saturday, 11 February – tentative – Pella tour (by Stephen Bourke, director); ruins at Abu al-Kharaz;
(3JD) Qasr Amra
Week Four: 12 February—16 February
Friday & Saturday, 17 February and 18 February – Overnight trip to the Wadi Rum includes
spending the night in a Bedouin camp setting (dinner included) and a camel ride (cost is
approximately 100JD per person)
Week Five: 19 February—23 February
24 February – (2JD) Kerak Castle (Crusader Fortress); Lot’s Cave and Museum
25 February – Amman – (5JD) Jordan Museum; (2JD) Roman Amphitheater; shopping in al Balad
(downtown area); grocery store stop on the way out of town
Week Six: 26 February—2 March
Friday, 3 March – Wadi Faynan tour (led by Mohammed Najjar)
Saturday, 4 March – Petra (50JD for returnees)
Week Seven: 5 March—9 March
Friday, 10 March – Iron Age Site Day – Moabite Ataruz, Khirbet al-Mudayna ath Thamad (tour by
Adeib Shumais)
Saturday, 11 March – (3JD) Umm ar-Rasas (mosaics), Madaba; (2JD) Byzantine mosaic map; (3JD)
Madaba Archaeological park, shopping; (3JD) Mount Nebo (Moses’ view of the Promised Land);
grocery store stop on way out of town
Week 8: 12 March—16 March
No Field Trips