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AMMAN — Dhiban on Wednesday is scheduled to host a “vibrant” cultural and heritage event titled “Dhiban: An Immortal Legacy” at the historic Ottoman Gendarmerie Station, uniting local stakeholders, residents and international partners to celebrate and preserve Dhiban’s rich historical legacy.
The ceremony is organised by the University of Liverpool in collaboration with the Municipality of Dhiban, the Department of Antiquities (DOA), and several local partners, including Beit Joudodna, a local school, and additional community institutions. It marks an important step in building inclusive heritage practices and increasing local engagement in cultural preservation.
The Dhiban Archaeological Project is a long-term, multidisciplinary research and training initiative co-directed by the University of Liverpool.
It investigates over 3,000 years of continuous occupation at Tell Dhiban, spanning Moabite, Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods. The project integrates archaeological research with educational outreach, local training, and community collaboration, offering a model for inclusive heritage stewardship in Jordan and the wider region.
“Since 2004, the University of Liverpool has co-directed archaeological excavations at Tell Dhiban, a site of exceptional historical depth. The Dhiban Archaeological Project has led groundbreaking research into Iron Age political systems, ancient water infrastructure, and settlement continuity, while also training Jordanian students and involving the local community in heritage interpretation and outreach,” said Sela founder and CEO Maria Ronza.
Ronza added that in line with these goals, the event is held in collaboration with Sela for Training and Protection of Heritage and Alraqeem for Services and Training, two Jordanian organisations dedicated to advancing local capacity in heritage protection and education. Their involvement highlights the importance of national expertise in promoting sustainable and community-driven cultural heritage programmes.
The event will have a morning and afternoon program that will representatives of the Governorate of Madaba, the DoA, the Municipality of Dhiban, the legal and judicial authorities, and Bruce Routledge from the University of Liverpool.
“The session will also include poetry readings, followed by the official opening of a heritage exhibition,” Ronza said, adding that the afternoon session is planned to foster broad community participation and raise awareness about the value of cultural heritage and its role in local development.
