Department of Antiquities (Jordan)

The Department of Antiquities () is a government department in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with responsibility for archaeological research and cultural heritage management. It is part of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The department was established in 1923 in what was then the Emirate of Transjordan, a protectorate of the British Empire. Its responsibilities are legislated for in laws no. 24 of 1934, no. 21 of 1988 and no. 22 of 2004.

The department has organised an international conference on the history and archaeology of Jordan every three years since 1980.

Historical background Initially part of the Department of Palestinian Antiquities, the Department of Antiquities was formed to collect and safeguard antiquities scattered across Jordan. The legal framework governing its operations was established through Law No. 21 in 1988, which defines antiquities as any human-made object predating 1700 AD, encompassing a wide range of artifacts including sculptures, manuscripts, and architectural remains.

Structure and responsibilities The department is managed by a director general who reports directly to the minister of tourism and antiquities. Its responsibilities include:

Supervision of Archaeological Work: The department oversees both local and foreign archaeological missions, ensuring compliance with Jordan's archaeological strategy Approval of Excavation Requests: All requests for archaeological excavations or surveys must be submitted to the Department for evaluation and approval Scientific Research and Documentation: The Directorate of Studies and Research within the department publishes scientific reports and maintains comprehensive documentation related to Jordan's antiquities

Publications (print and online) Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (ADAJ), an academic journal published since 1951

The Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities – Jordan (MEGA-J), a comprehensive public geographic information system and database of archaeological sites in the country, developed in cooperation with the Getty Conservation Institute to replace the Jordan Antiquities Database and Information System (JADIS)

Cultural heritage management The department plays a crucial role in preserving Jordan's cultural heritage, which includes several UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Petra, Wadi Rum, and Qusayr Amra. It collaborates with international organizations like UNESCO to enhance the protection and management of these sites.

Directors general The department is headed by a director general. Ridha Tawfiq, 1923–1928 Tawfiq Abu al-Huda, 1929 Ala Edein Toqan, 1931 Adeeb al-Kayed, 1933 Hisham Kair, 1933–1939 Gerald Lankester Harding, 1939–1956. Harding's book "The Antiquities of Jordan" is still considered a reference to this day. Abd el–Kareem Gharaybeh, 1956 Saeed al-Durrah, 1956–1959 Awni al-Dajani, 1959–1968. Al-Dajani is the first Jordanian holder of a Ph.D. in Archaeology. Michael Jmaiaan, 1968 Yaacoub Ouais, 1968–1971 and 1972–1977 Mansour al-Bataineh, 1971–1972 Adnan al-Hadidi 1977–1989 Ghazi Bishah, 1989–1991 and 1994–1999 Safwan al-Tall, 1991–1994 Fawwaz al-Khraysheh, 1999–2010 Ziad al-Saad, 2010–2011 Faris al-Hmoud, 2011–2013 Monther Jamhawi, 2013–2018 Yazeed Alian, 2018-2021 Ahmed Shami, (acting) Feb 2021-July 2021 Hisham al-Abadi, July 2021-October 2021 Fadi A. Bala'awi, October 2021-March 2024 Fawzi Qassem Abu Danneh, March 2024-present

Department of Antiquities (Jordan)

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