Apprentice Bahador Jafarpur, in conjunction with the research team, investigated recent projects in Jordan, Iran, and Bahrain in order to gain a sense of the diversity of ways that archaeologists are developing archaeological sites for tourism in these countries. The project, known as the Dhiban Excavation and Development Project in Jordan, seeks to create sustainable business and employment industries around one of Jordan’s largest archaeological sites in partnership with the Jordanian government and the local Dhiban community.

Bahador traveled with Professor Porter for two weeks in Dhiban this summer, gaining the opportunity to discuss strategies for developing sustainable economies with local businesses, politicians, government employees, and other stakeholders. At the end of the apprenticeship, Bahador worked with Professor Porter in August to prepare two grant proposals, a conference abstract, and a peer-reviewed article, which examines the roles that archaeologists play in the development of sustainable tourism in the Middle East.