Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - John Brown University's Abila Archaeological Project received a $1 million anonymous gift, the university announced.

The gift will help fund the excavation, conservation and restoration of the archeological site of Abila of the Decapolis in Northern Jordan. It will also help with JBU's the Holy Lands Study Trip, a summer studies program, and the biannual Abila Lecture in Biblical Archaeology.

"We are so grateful for this generous gift to JBU's Abila project," John Brown University President Chip Pollard says. "The Abila Archaeological Project has created wonderful opportunities for JBU students to uncover the history of Abila and the church in Jordan as well as to learn from the people of Jordan. We are so thankful for this gift to encourage the growth and excellence of this program."

The Abila project, to date, has focused on a few historic sites, including five large Byzantine churches, a Roman Bath complex, hundreds of Roman and Byzantine tombs and a Christian monastery dating to the 8th century CE.

The gift is part of the University's Endowment for Academic Excellence, which has a goal to raise $125 million. Currently, the University has raised more than $74 million and plans to complete the campaign on JBU's centennial in 2019.

*Arkansas Matters