Irbid’s newly discovered archaeological site to open to public next month

AMMAN — The Department of Antiquities (DoA) will open a recently discovered archaeological site in Irbid’s Beit Ras area next month, the department’s Director General Munther Jamhawi said on Thursday.

Jamhawi explained that the site was discovered in late November last year by a local team, which was undertaking a sewage project in the northern governorate. He added that the site has been under renovation since then.

Teams of experts from Italy, France and the US specialised in archaeology, history and antiquities have visited the site multiple times to study its carved stones in order to estimate the period of time it dates back to,  Jamhawi said.

“Initial studies have shown that the site is unique and different from other sites in the region. It narrates stories from previous civilisations,” he told The Jordan Times.

He explained that the tomb contains oil paintings and Roman engravings dating back to the 1st century AD, which indicates the importance of the owner of the tomb.

The Fresco-built tombstone has engraved transcriptions and drawings, Jamhawi said, adding that the teams used them to study the history of the tomb. The findings “would be added to the history of the land and the civilisations that had previously resided in the area”, the director general stated.

The restoration and renovation projects for the site have amounted to around $100,000, he said. 

The site requires a specific temperature and environmental control, in addition to infrastructure improvements, Jamhawi added. 

The official opening of the site will happen next month, he noted, saying it would benefit the tourism sector in Irbid, 80km north of Amman, and that the department is planning how to include the newly discovered site on the tourism map.