The Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology at Yarmouk University has concluded the first season of excavation and field training at the archaeological site of Khirbet Qabla, located southwest of Zubia in Irbid Governorate.
The excavation was carried out during the summer semester as part of field-training courses for students in archaeology, heritage resources conservation and management, and anthropology.
Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology Khaled Al-Bashaireh said the excavations uncovered several important archaeological features, most notably a complete wine press carved into limestone dating to the Byzantine period. The facility includes interconnected pressing, settling and collection basins linked by carved channels used to drain grape juice.
Al-Bashaireh said the success of the first season reflects the university and faculty’s commitment to combining field training with scientific research. He noted that the initial findings have highlighted the site’s archaeological significance and opened new opportunities for continued excavation and study in upcoming seasons.
The excavations also uncovered several individual graves and family tombs dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods, in addition to the remains of a small church that had not been known before the 2026 excavation season.
According to Al-Bashaireh, the church building underwent several phases of use. Archaeological evidence indicates that it was initially used as an olive press before later being converted into a small church, reflecting the successive uses and development of the site across different historical periods.
He added that preliminary findings indicate that Khirbet Qabla witnessed significant settlement activity during the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods, as reflected in the nature of the structures uncovered and their successive use over time.
Al-Bashaireh said the faculty’s field-training courses aim to strengthen students’ practical skills and establish a hands-on learning approach. The training provided students with direct field experience in excavation and archaeological investigation, drawing and documentation, archaeological photography, handling and recording artifacts, and preparing field records and reports in accordance with established scientific standards.
Project Director Dr. Ma’an Ammoush said the first season at Khirbet Qabla achieved its training and scientific objectives, giving students the opportunity to participate directly in various stages of fieldwork while producing promising preliminary archaeological findings that confirm the site’s scientific importance.
He added that the discoveries made during the season represent a starting point for developing a deeper understanding of the site’s history and evolution. Future excavation seasons, he said, will help uncover additional architectural elements and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the site’s settlement sequence.
The excavation season was supervised by Dr. Ma’an Ammoush, Dr. Hussein Sabbah, and instructor Nasser Gharaibeh, with the participation of the technical team at the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, comprising Mousa Sarbal, Fares Badeir, Mahmoud Alwan, Waleed Abu Al-Haija, and Bilal Hamouri.
