Professor
Whitman College
Anthropology
Gary O. Rollefson received his PhD from the University of Arizona and is now Professor emeritus from both San Diego State University and from Whitman College. He has conducted fieldwork in Jordan annually since 1978, as well as Israel and Saudi Arabia. Since 1982, Dr. Rollefson has been Principal Investigator at the excavations at Neolithic ‘Ain Ghazal, which has produced stunning examples of 10,000 year-old statues and other unique religious paraphernalia. Dr. Rollefson’s exciting discoveries of ritual structures in Wadi Rum are changing the way that archaeologists are looking at Neolithic, Copper Age and Bronze Age pastoral societies.
His most recent work is in the eastern desert of Jordan where he has found a 1 1/2 square mile necropolis. His main publications include “The Crowded Desert: Late Neolithic Megasites in the Black Desert of Jordan” and “Standing Stones and Megalithic Architecture at Wisad Pools in Jordan’s Black Desert”.
Professor Rollefson’s knowledge of Jordan and its archaeology, along with his contagious sense of humor and excitement about Jordan makes him an ideal leader.
‘I cannot say enough good things about Gary Rollefson. He was polite, patient, deeply knowledgeable, engaging, often funny, and just plain enjoyable to spend time with. His depth of knowledge of human history and archaeology in Jordan is unparalleled. We felt very privileged to travel with Gary. He is a rock star in Jordan!’ – Karen Nardi
‘Gary Rollefson has brains, humor and the patience of Job! A total delight, he’s a precious gem of Jordan! What a thrill to watch as other guides recognized “Dr. Gary” & came over to introduce themselves! ‘ – Meg Anderson
‘Dr. Rollefson was such a terrific scholar, informative, modest, cute sense of humor, a lovely person’ – Marcia Addison
