The CBRL Archives team has recently begun digitising and uploading a collection of Jordan slides from the Crystal Bennett Archive – the largest archival collection held at the Amman Institute – to the CBRL Digital Repository. 

This significant collection comprises photographic records of archaeological sites spanning the length of Jordan, from north to south. Together, these images provide an invaluable visual record of archaeological excavations and fieldwork that have helped shape the historical understanding of the region. 

The photographs were taken by Crystal Bennett during her work at the British Institute for Archaeology and History (BIAAH), documenting both prominent archaeological sites and Jordanian landscapes, from the 1960s to the early 1980s. These slides do more than simply record archaeological sites; they capture key moments from her fieldwork and site visits. By bringing these images into the digital age, the project ensures that these historical snapshots are preserved and made accessible to researchers worldwide. 

Crystal M. Bennett, founder and first director of the British Institute for Archaeology and History (BIAAH), was among the pioneering women in archaeology in the Middle East. Her professional journey began with fieldwork in the United Kingdom and led to high-profile collaborations with Kathleen Kenyon on major excavations at Jericho and Jerusalem. She eventually transitioned to leading her own landmark research in Jordan, directing excavations at sites including Umm al-Biyara, Tawilan, and Busaira, where she uncovered settlements dating primarily to the late eighth and seventh centuries BC. Her work established the first rigorous archaeological framework for understanding Iron Age southern Jordan.