This Festschrift is a tribute to Zeidan Kafafi in appreciation for his lifelong commitment and contribution to the field of Near Eastern archaeology and in particular that of Jordan with the Archaeology Department at the al-Yarmouk University. In accordance with his focus of interest, the 18 contributions assembled in this volume predominantly cover Jordan, Syria, the Levant and North Arabia with an emphasis on the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic. Among others, “Religion and Ritual in Early Neolithic Jordan” is examined by B. Finlayson. K. Bartl presents an overview of the “Neolithic Developments in Syria”. G. van der Kooij discusses the temple at Tell Deir ‘Alla, while L. Nigro focuses on “Urbanism in Early Bronze Age Jordan”. The “History of Research on the Iron Age at the Amman Citadel” is presented by K. Schmidt and the recent history of the “American Center of Research” in Jordan by B.A. Porter.

Prince Hassan bin Talal: Zeidan Kafafi, a Laudation

Hani Hayajneh, Omar al-Ghul and Susanne Kerner: An Appreciation and Introduction

Hans J. Nissen and Khair Yassine: Zeidan Kafafi, an Appreciation

Hans-Dieter Bienert and Ingrid Liedgens: Professor Dr. Zeidan Kafafi – a Distinguished Scholar and Friend

Carol Palmer: Prof. Dr Zeidan Kafafi – Time and Place, in Conversation 

Fabio Parenti and Gaetano Palumbo: The Upper Zarqa Valley and its Relevance for Levantine Prehistory

Maysoon Al Nahar: ‘Ayn Ghazal 2020 Season: Preliminary Report 

Hans Georg K. Gebel: The Neolithic of the Greater Petra Area: The Early 1980’s Research History

Bill Finlayson: Religion and Ritual in Early Neolithic Jordan 

Gary O. Rollefson: The Neolithic of the Nefud Desert, North-Western Arabian Peninsula 

Karin Bartl: Neolithic Developments in Syria 

Eric Coqueugniot: Heavy Flint Tools from Abu Hamid (Jordan) – Axes, Adzes, Scissors, Picks …: Woodcutters’ and Carpenters’ Tools, or Agricultural Implements?

Moawiyah M. Ibrahim: Chalcolithic Sahab: A Village Farming Community between Highland and Desert

Susanne Kerner: Ledge Handles, their Development and Potential for Interpretation 

Lorenzo Nigro: Paths towards Urbanism in Early Bronze Age Jordan 

Jens Kamlah: Bird Depictions in Middle Bronze Age Burial Contexts: Two Unique Tell el-Yehudiyeh Vessels from Tell el-Burak (Lebanon)

Gerrit van der Kooij: Tell Deir ‘Alla: A Southern LBA Temple? 

Margreet L. Steiner: The Late Bronze Age Temple at Deir Alla: A Reassessment

Katharina Schmidt: The History of Research on the Iron Age at the Amman Citadel جبل القلعة (Jabal Al-Qalʽa) 

Lucas P. Petit: Crossing the Jordan River: The Historiography of the Damiyah Bridges 

Reinhard Bernbeck: Extractivism, Hyperobjects and Heritage Futures: The Case of Abu Snesleh 

Barbara A. Porter: Some Thoughts on ACOR’s Role in Jordan’s Heritage over 50 Years 

Khaled Douglas and Nasser Al-Jahwari: خالد دغلس وناصر الجهوري : Early Bronze Age Settlements – Umm an-Nar Culture – 2500–2000 BCE in the Northern Oman Peninsula