Established 1999 Founded 1999 | Website www.bai-wuppertal.de Director Dieter Vieweger | |
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Faculty Archeology, Biblical Archeology Endowment Friends of the BAI (e.V.) Location University of Wuppertal
Protestant University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany Address Bergische Universität Wuppertal
Campus Freudenberg, Haus FD/III
Rainer-Gruenter-Strasse 21
DE 42097 Wuppertal | ||
The Biblical Archaeological Institute Wuppertal (BAI) was established in 1999 by the Protestant Church of the Rhineland. It constitutes an institute of the “Protestant University of Wuppertal” as well as an associated institute of the University of Wuppertal and holds the right to award doctorates at both universities.
Contents
- Scientific aims
- Different projects
- The Gadara Region Project and the Tall Ziraa
- Director
- Location University of Wuppertal Bergische Universitt Wuppertal
- References
The necessary financial endowment is provided by the “Friends of the BAI” (e.V.).
Scientific aims
Since 1999 four main objectives of research are being pursued. These comprehend:
Different projects
The Biblical Archaeological Institute has conducted excavations and geophysical research in Italy, Greece, Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Gadara Region Project and the Tall Zira'a
Since 2001 the institute's research focuses on the exploration of the Gadara region. The largest site in the area is the Tall Zira'a which comprises over 5000 years of settlement history. At this place in 2001 a survey was conducted. In 2003 started the first excavation of a long term project which is scheduled until 2020. Since 2004 the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology Amman is a partner of the project. Since 2006 the corresponding institute in Jerusalem participates likewise. The currently running excavation seasons are accomplished by a regional survey covering the greater Wadi al-'Arab area since 2009.
On the Tall Zira'a settlements from over more than five millennia are being excavated. Furthermore, the agricultural potential as well as flora and fauna, geology, hydrology, trade relations (roads, infrastructure) and the strategically importance of the Wadi al-Arab are being explored.
25 km2 of the greater Wadi al-'Arab area (south of the ancient city of Gadara) were under research since 2009. In this area exist more than 100 sites which date from prehistory to the Islamic period.
With the help of archaeometrical methods the artefacts from the Tall Zira'a are being examined concerning their respective materials. Thereby, the research concentrates on pottery, glass and faience to gain insight into the possible location of production sites and the technological knowledge.
The research described above goes hand in hand with experimental archaeology, applying old techniques e. g. of constructing a potters oven and firing the products.
The geophysical prospection of the Tall Zira'a used geoelectrical mapping, two-dimensional tomography and three-dimensional tomographical techniques to
Director
The first Director of the Biblical Archaeological Institute is Dieter Vieweger who was appointed in 1999. Since November 2005 he is also the Director of the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem and Amman. He is professor at the Protestant University of Wuppertal as well as at the Witten/Herdecke University.
Location University of Wuppertal (Bergische Universität Wuppertal)
On 13 July 2003 the move-in of the BAI in the facilities of the Bergische Universität, Campus Freudenberg was ceremonially solemnized. The stuff of the BAI is mainly concerned with the archaeological research of the finds from the Tall Zira´a.
The BAI on the Campus Freudenberg of the Bergische Universität Wuppertal can easily be reached by car via A 1, A 46 and L 418. Public transport is being provided from Wuppertal central station by Bus "E". The institute is located on the 3rd floor of building FD.