Italy to host international conference on archaeology of Jordan

Jordan and Italy share important perspectives in the common Mediterranean area. Our countries, rich in history and traditions lasting millennia, have inherited an impressive cultural heritage, destined to be handed down and protected for the next generations.

With this spirit, Italy is going to host the next International Conference on History and Archeology of Jordan (ICHAJ 14), a prestigious international event held every three years since 1980, alternatively with Amman and in a country that actively contributes to archaeological investigation in Jordan.

The Conference will be held in Florence from 21 to 25 of January, under the patronage of HRH Prince Hassan Bin Talal. As a very first time in Italy, it is our honour to welcome the most distinguished scholars — historians, archeologists and architects — from the most important research institutions of the world to discuss the role played by the historical communities in Jordan in the development of Euro-Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilisations.

The title of the 2019 edition is “Culture in Crisis: Flows of People, Artifacts and Ideas”. An exhibition on the work of Italian archaeological missions in Jordan will be also inaugurated in Florence, and is expected to run in Jordan later this year.

ICHAJ 14 represents a new stage in the fruitful collaboration between Italy and Jordan in the field of the promotion and protection of cultural heritage. For many years we have been working in Jordan through numerous projects, through Italian archaeological missions, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and projects in cooperation with UNESCO — Amman Branch. Main projects, worth $5 million in total, include the preservation of Petra Siq and the establishment of a restoration centre in Jerash, to be set as a reference point for the whole region.

Italy’s commitment in Jordan will continue on these solid foundations. We are convinced that conservation and protection of cultural heritage is a source of development and well-being in which we shall invest and believe in more and more.

The writer is ambassador of Italy to Jordan. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times