14th International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan (ICHAJ 14)
From 21 to 25 January 2019, the 14th International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan (ICHAJ 14) was held in Florence, organized by the University of Florence, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (DOA) and under the Patronage of HRH Prince El-Hassan bin Talal.
The conference was attended by over 600 scientists, researchers, scholars and professionals and focused on new discoveries, preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of Jordan. ISPRA (Dept. Geological Survey of Italy), which is being involved in Jordan since 2009 in several projects, has presented updated results of research and implementation initiatives as support to UNESCO Amman, the DOA and ACOR (American Centre for Oriental Research). Studies on a) the ‘Siq Stability Project’ in the UNESCO site of Petra, b) structural conservation of the Stylite Tower of the UNESCO site of Um-ar-Rasas, c) consolidation of the Crusade Castle of Karak, d) geophysical and geotechnical investigations for the geological conservation of the painted Roman Tomb of Bayt Ras, recently discovered in N Jordan, have been presented.
In the opening ceremony, the Italian Ambassador in Jordan, HE dr. Fabio Cassese, has publicly acknowledged ISPRA for his long-term technical support to the UNESCO ‘Siq Stability Project’ (whose 4th Phase has been recently funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) that, besides the reconstruction of Mosul in Irak, represents a milestone project for Italy in the Middle East. The relevance of the project as well as the role of ISPRA have been mentioned again in the plenary closing ceremony by the Vice Minister of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation, dr. Claudia Emanuela Del Re.
Finally, in the days 9-11 April 2019, the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, in the framework of a diplomatic mission in Jordan, will be visiting the permanent exhibition of the ‘Siq Stability Project’ in the Visitor Center of Petra and the work site that will be soon installed in the ‘Siq’ for the rock consolidation works, 4th Phase.
