Projected centre aimed at conserving antiquities

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Monday was briefed on the Department of Antiquities' (DoA) project to establish a centre to study and conserve artefacts in the capital.

Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez and DoA Director Munther Jamhawi briefed Ensour on the project's "important role" in ensuring the safe storage of antiquities, especially since many artefacts are vulnerable to the elements, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The centre will include halls to conserve antiquities, a library, labs to process and maintain artefacts, and an archive.

The premier also toured facilities where artefacts are currently stored and was briefed on the methodology used to catalogue and conserve them.

Ensour expressed the government's support for the project, issuing directives for its immediate implementation.

He noted that "these treasures" represent the historical eras that Jordan has witnessed over thousands of years.

"These archaeological treasures are keepsakes that we must all safeguard against tampering, loss or destruction," Petra quoted Ensour as saying, stressing the need for the centre to accommodate the large number of artefacts unearthed in Jordan.

In remarks to the press, Fayez said implementation of the project will start immediately.

For his part, Jamhawi said the projected centre is a major national project.

"We have hundreds of thousands of artefacts that require storing and conservation in a scientific manner under suitable environmental conditions and after necessary studies are conducted," he added, noting that the DoA is in possession of antiquities that date to 8,000 years BC.

He voiced hope that the project will "see the light of day soon", according to Petra.