Building bridges through collaborative discussions advancing heritage, antiquities, and archaeology in Jordan and the Levant  

Under the patronage of HE Prof. Khaled Hyari, President of the Hashemite University, the eighth Heritage and Archaeology Diwan #8 was held at the Hashemite University on July 28 and 29, 2024, with the theme “Gateway to the Future: New Methods in Archaeology.” The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Sharifa Nofa Bint Nasser, President of the Friends of Archaeology and Heritage in Jordan, HE Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, the French Ambassador to Jordan, the Dean of the Queen Rania Faculty of Tourism and Heritage Prof. Firas Alawneh, Vice Presidents of the Hashemite University, and Dr Carol Palmer, CBRL Director, along with researchers, academics, and students.

This year, Diwan #8 attracted over 30 speakers, from young students to early career researchers, who gathered to discuss and share their reflections on the latest developments and tools in archaeology and heritage practices. The event took place over two days and was structured into themed sessions, each followed by a panel discussion covering a broad range of topics from technological advancements in archaeology to community involvement in heritage management on the architectural and urban levels.

The first day featured sessions on New Methods in Heritage, Archaeological Studies, and Sites and Museums Management. Our colleagues from CBRL Amman Institute, Eman Shahin and Rudaina al Momani, presented the preservation and digitisation of the CBRL Archives project funded by the British Museum under the Endangered Archives Programme. They emphasised new methods in heritage conservation, including advanced digital preservation tools and innovative approaches to archival management. 

Later that day, Dr Carol Palmer moderated the Archaeological Studies session. This session featured a series of engaging presentations that covered significant aspects of archaeological research including findings from Early Bronze Age sites, such as Khirbet al‐Batrawy and Khirbet Ez‐Zeraqoun and Safaitic Inscriptions from Wadi Maqqat.  

The Sites and Museums Management session covered the use of international charters in guiding urban planning for effective heritage conservation and other topics. This session’s discussions continued the second day, building on the previous day’s discussions. Key presentations included an innovative approach for managing, interpreting, and intervening at the Palacio De Mansilla within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Segovia, Spain. Efforts to revitalise the historic city center of Karak and restore the archaeological Karak Castle Square were discussed by a student from Al-Balqa Applied University, followed by a presentation by Bitar Consultants, Architects, Engineers and Project Managers on tourism planning in the old city of Karak.  

This session was followed by presentations on architectural studies, focusing on adaptive reuse strategies and the significance of traditional architectural elements with case studies from Madaba, Amman, and Baghdad. The session concluded with valuable insights into reviving the traditional art of stone dome construction in Jordan. The final part covered Public Archaeology exploring community capacity building for Petra, the use of photogrammetry as a storytelling tool, and the importance of heritage and archaeology research in tourism. 

Diwan #8 was marked by valuable discussions to support students and early career researchers in building on their projects with applicable ideas and updates that align with the aspirations of professionals in antiquities, heritage and tourism, all aimed at serving the public interest.  

This year, over 95 people attended from various Jordanian universities and organisations, including the Hashemite University, Yarmouk University, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, German Jordanian University, and Al Al-Bayt University. The event also attracted participants of various nationalities, including students from Damascus University, La Sapienza University of Rome, and Baghdad University. 

We are glad that our partnership with the Queen Rania Faculty of Tourism and Heritage at Hashemite University in organising Diwan #8 has been successful. The success of the Heritage and Archaeology Diwan #8 highlights the ongoing commitment of international research institutes in Jordan, such as CBRL, IFPO, ACOR, and GPIA, to collaborate with local academic institutions and empower students and emerging researchers in heritage and archaeology for the country’s heritage protection.  

Diwan #8 was also featured in local Arabic-language newspapers:  

https://www.petra.gov.jo/Include/InnerPage.jsp?ID=287129&lang=ar&name=news