The CBRL Archives team has recently begun digitising and uploading a collection of photographic slides from the Crystal Bennett Archive, the largest archival collection held at the Amman Institute, to the Digital Repository. Comprising approximately 1200 slides, the collection offers a remarkable visual record of archaeological excavations and fieldwork across the Levant.
Crystal M. Bennett, founder and first director of the Institute of Amman for Archaeology and History, was among the pioneering women in archaeology in the region. After early fieldwork in the UK, she collaborated with Kathleen Kenyon on excavations at Jericho and Jerusalem, later leading her own fieldwork at Petra and Busaira in Jordan. The slides capture key moments from her distinguished career, documenting excavations and travels across Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
This collection represents a valuable resource for researchers and anyone interested in the history of archaeology in the region. The CBRL Archives team is cataloguing and digitising the material in accordance with international digital preservation standards, ensuring its long-term accessibility for future generations of scholars and students.
This initiative supports CBRL’s commitment to promoting open access to rare archival resources and advancing research and education in history, archaeology, and cultural heritage. Additional parts of the Bennett collection will continue to be digitised and made available through the digital repository in the coming months.
CBRL Digital Repository – English
CBRL Digital Repository – Arabic
Other projects by the CBRL Archive Team:
