Amman, 7 February 2026 – Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation celebrated academic and researcher Dr. Zaidan Kafafi in a seminar titled “Zaidan Kafafi: Academic and Researcher”, as part of its annual Guest of the Year program. The event was attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas, Sharifa Nofa bint Nasser, and a distinguished group of thinkers, academics, and cultural figures.
Valentina Kassisieh, CEO of the Foundation, highlighted Dr. Kafafi’s exceptional career, noting that he refused to confine himself to teaching or theoretical writing. Instead, he devoted himself to field research and led dozens of major archaeological excavations at sites including Ain Ghazal, Hisyah, Deir Alla, Tell Damiyah, Abu Hamid, and the Amman Citadel. These projects revealed new insights into human settlement and positioned Jordan at the forefront of prehistoric studies.
“Dr. Kafafi has published over 20 books and 250 research papers, most focusing on the archaeology of Jordan, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula,” Kassisieh said. “His work has become a key reference for scholars and students, shedding light on new chapters of our history and enriching our understanding of the civilizations that have shaped the region.” She added that the Foundation seeks to recognize scholars, writers, and intellectuals whose work has had a lasting impact on public life in Jordan, noting that the Guest of the Year program has served this purpose for more than 25 years.
The celebration also featured a tribute seminar with several sessions exploring Dr. Kafafi’s life and achievements. The first session, titled “Beginnings” and moderated by Dr. Omar Al-Fajawi, included presentations by Dr. Mohammad Adnan Al-Bakhit, whose paper was titled “Zaidan Abdul Kafi Kafafi: From the Village of Nuba in the Hebron Hills to the University of Jordan,” Dr. Hind Abu Al-Shaar with “Solid Foundations: Zaidan Kafafi and the University of Jordan,” Ramadan Kafafi with “The Village Stage,” and Dr. Nu’man Jubran with “Zaidan Kafafi as I Knew Him as a Student at the University of Jordan.”
Speakers noted that Dr. Kafafi is among the figures associated with archaeology in Jordan and internationally. They described him as generous in sharing his knowledge, respectful of differing viewpoints, and known for his humility and gracious character. The session also highlighted aspects of his early life in the village of Nuba in the Hebron Hills, alongside reflections on his academic journey.
The second session, titled “In the Field of Work and Study” and moderated by Dr. Omar Al-Ghoul, featured presentations by Dr. Nizam Abbasi, whose paper was titled “From Freiburg to Berlin: Humanizing Exile,” as well as Dr. Hans Giebel (joining via video conference), Dr. Susan Kerner, and Ihab Amareen with a paper titled “Dr. Zaidan Kafafi from the Jordan Archaeological Museum to the Jordan Museum: Fifty Years of Distinguished Museum Work.” Dr. Fawzi Abu Daneh also presented a paper titled “A Station in Zaidan Kafafi’s Professional Journey: The Department of Antiquities.”
Speakers noted that Kafafi’s years abroad—from Freiburg to Berlin—were not merely a geographical transition or a passing stage, but a formative experience that deeply shaped both his scientific outlook and his human perspective. They also reviewed various aspects of his academic and professional contributions to archaeology.
The third session, titled “In Academia and the Field,” was moderated by Dr. Musleh Al-Najjar. Speakers included former Prime Minister Dr. Adnan Badran, whose paper was titled “Zaidan Kafafi and Yarmouk University: A Scientific Path in Institutional Development and Academic Renewal,” as well as Dr. Munther Al-Shar’a with “Archaeology and Excavations in Clarifying Historical Narratives: Insights from the Work of Professor Zaidan Kafafi.” Dr. Adeeb Abu Shmeis presented “Where Time Breathes and Gypsum Speaks the Memory of the Past from the Clay of Amman’s Stream,” while Dr. Muawiya Ibrahim presented “Contributions of Prof. Zaidan Kafafi to Studies and Fieldwork,” alongside Dr. Jerry Rollefson.
Speakers noted that reflecting on Dr. Kafafi’s career is, in many ways, reflecting on a comprehensive academic journey closely tied to the development of Yarmouk University during its formative and growth years. They added that his contributions helped shape a model of a university that is open to knowledge, deeply rooted in its community, and connected to the wider world.
They added that honoring Dr. Kafafi is not merely a tribute to an individual, but also a celebration of a generation of academics who believed that education is a long-term national project and that a university is not simply a building or a certificate, but a mission and responsibility.
It was further highlighted that his contributions to archaeological excavations—particularly at sites such as Ain Ghazal—remain a living testament to his dedication to science. They noted that Dr. Kafafi was never simply a researcher working behind closed doors, but an inspiring field leader who helped uncover knowledge from beneath the earth that reshaped our understanding of human history.
• The fourth session, titled “Work with the Ministry of Tourism: Major Projects and Discoveries,” was moderated by Dr. Ziad Abu Laban. Speakers included former Minister of Tourism Lina Ennab with a paper titled “The best among people are those who bring the greatest benefit to others.”
Dr. Omar Al-Ghoul with “Knowledge Disobedience,” Dr. Khaled Al-Bashaireh with “Reflections on Zaidan Kafafi’s Journey Along the Path of Civilizations,” and Dr. Maysoon Al-Nahar with “Discoveries of Prof. Zaidan Kafafi at Neolithic Sites.”
Participants emphasized that Dr. Kafafi’s career represents a comprehensive national school in scientific research, institutional leadership, community service, and the protection of cultural identity. They noted that his work shows that archaeology is not merely about discovering stones, but about constructing narratives, and that protecting heritage sites is not a temporary project but a long-term vision that invests in people before monuments.
They also noted that Dr. Kafafi left a clear mark on every institution he helped build, every site where he worked, every archaeological project associated with his name, and every student he mentored.
The fifth and final session, titled “Students of Dr. Zaidan Kafafi,” was moderated by Dr. Zuhair Tawfiq. Speakers included Dr. Hashem Khreis with “Zaidan Kafafi through the Eyes of His Students: A Scientific and Human Experience,” Dr. Firdous Al-Ajlouni with “My Academic Journey with Professor Kafafi: The Voice of the Past in Jordan’s Present,” and Dr. Faiza Al-Shorouf with “Zaidan and I: A Lifetime Journey.”
Speakers noted that one of the defining aspects of Dr. Kafafi’s influence, from the perspective of his students, was that he was not merely a lecturer whose impact ended in the classroom. Rather, he founded a comprehensive scholarly school grounded in clear values and methodological principles that shaped generations of researchers. This approach emphasized methodological rigor, respect for scientific methods, precision in terminology, strict documentation and sourcing, and the integration of theory with practice and archaeological research with comparative historical knowledge.
Dr. Kafafi always emphasized that the true value of scientific research lies not in bold conclusions or striking results, but in the soundness of its methodology. Any flaw in method, he stressed, inevitably undermines the credibility of the findings, no matter how novel or remarkable they may appear. He constantly reminded his students that archaeologists bear a heightened responsibility, working with irreplaceable material and evidence that forms part of the historical and cultural record—so any inaccurate interpretation does not harm the researcher alone, but history itself.
In her remarks, Dr. Faiza Al-Shorouf, Dr. Kafafi’s wife, said that selecting him as Guest of the Year honors the life of a person who lived with sincerity, gave generously without expecting anything in return, and made his home a place of warmth and compassion.
She added: “Zaidan is more than a husband, father, grandfather, in-law, or brother; he is a heart full of life and kindness, offering support without expecting anything in return. His presence brings reassurance to those around him, and his words and actions embody the true meaning of generosity.”
At the conclusion of the tribute seminar, Guest of the Year Dr. Zaidan Kafafi expressed his appreciation to Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation for organizing the event, reflecting on his academic and professional journey.
Dr. Zaidan Abdul Kafi Kafafi is a prominent Jordanian academic and archaeologist. He earned his PhD in 1982 from the Free University of Berlin and later joined the faculty of Yarmouk University, where he rose through the academic ranks to become a professor in 1993. He also served as President of Yarmouk University from 2018 to 2020.
Throughout his career, he held several senior academic and administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, Dean of Scientific Research and Graduate Studies, and Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. He has also served as a visiting professor and researcher at several distinguished Arab and European universities and research centers, including the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
Kafafi made pioneering contributions to the study of Jordanian and Levantine archaeology, particularly in the Prehistoric, Bronze, and Iron Ages. He supervised and participated in dozens of local and international archaeological excavations and surveys. He also published numerous books and peer-reviewed research papers and held membership and leadership positions on the editorial boards of specialized academic journals.
In recognition of his scholarly contributions and his role in highlighting Jordan’s cultural heritage, Dr. Kafafi has received wide local and international recognition, including the King Abdullah II Order for Excellence, the State Appreciation Award in Archaeology, the Order of Academic Palms from the French government, and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences Award.