While archaeology and more specifically the Umm el-Jimal Archaeological Project (UJAP) were the focus of the majority of history emeritus Bert de Vries’ career at Calvin, his real passion was the Jordanian people. “My principle from the beginning was to include the local people,” said de Vries, in a recent interview about his work. “On a global scale, Bert’s work at Umm el-Jimal is widely recognized within archaeology, cultural heritage, and humanitarian circles,” said Calvin colleague Darrell Rohl. In 2009, concerned about refugee children, Bert and his wife, Sally, helped found Healing Children of Conflict in west Michigan, an organization that works to bring injured children to the U.S. for treatment. They, and their essential role in the work at Umm el-Jimal, are his truest legacy in Jordan.

Source: The Local March 31, 2021 23:15 UTC