- Title: Jordan eyes new world heritage site; Umm el-Jimal
- Date: 28th August 2022
- Summary: MAFRAQ, JORDAN (AUGUST 14, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, FADI BALAWI, SAYING: "What distinguishes Umm el-Jimal? The thing that distinguishes it the most is the architecture, its nature and its location in a remote area. (Umm el-Jimal) created a big role in the change in civilizations by providing the main elements for life and this is evidence of how humans inhabited the area, adapted to it and were able to tame the environment and transform it from a remote desert area to an attraction point for civilizations over centuries." PEOPLE WALKING ON SITE VARIOUS OF STATUES ON SITE TOUR GUIDE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SAMAR ARMAN, WALKING ON SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TOUR GUIDE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SAMAR ARMAN, SAYING: "The relationship of the local community with Umm el-Jimal is historical, we go back to the time when the last bedouin family lived at the site, Al Masaeed, who are now the local inhabitants of Umm el-Jimal. They lived in the site until around the 1970s, until 1972 when a law from the department of antiquities banned living in archeological sites. So they built the modern Umm el-Jimal settlement around the site and our connection with the site is historical." VARIOUS OF ANCIENT HOUSE ON SITE EXTERIOR OF UMM EL-JIMAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY VARIOUS OF LOCAL PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY HEAD OF UMM EL-JIMAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY, SAMIHA MASAEED, SORTING THE PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF UMM EL-JIMAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY, SAMIHA MASAEED, SAYING: "We work on carving on basalt rock. For sure if the site is added to UNESCO (world heritage list) it will develop and become international. We at the society will benefit on many fronts and will develop our work further." VARIOUS OF WOMAN GRINDING GRAINS USING HISTORICAL STONE GRINDER
- Embargoed: 11th September 2022 13:51
- Keywords: Archeological sites Heritage UNESCO world heritage list
- Location: MAFRAQ, JORDAN
- City: MAFRAQ, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA004106928082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Preparations are underway to nominate Umm el-Jimal for UNESCO's world heritage list, Jordan’s director of the department of antiquities, Fadi Balawi said.
Located in a remote desert in the north of Jordan and comprised of basalt constructed settlements, a communal water system, churches, cemeteries and military forts, Umm el-Jimal was occupied and built by many civilizations including the Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines and Umayyad’s.
It was later inhabited by nomads and sporadic settlers.
"The thing that distinguishes it the most is the architecture, its nature and its location in a remote area," Balawi said.
"(Umm el-Jimal) is evidence of how humans inhabited the area, adapted to it and were able to tame the environment and transform it from a remote desert area to an attraction point for civilizations over centuries," he added.
While placed on the tentative list of world heritage sites in 2018, the government has been working on developing the site to qualify for a full nomination since then.
The development process included the restoration and renovation of the site and setting conservation and management plans.
Working alongside the government is the local community, whose ancestors lived at the site until the 1970s, and who play a role in its documentation and restoration.
Jordan has 6 sites already inscribed on the world heritage list including Petra, Wadi Rum, Salt city, the Baptism site, Quseir Amra, and Um er-Rasas.
(Production: Jehad Abu Shalbak, Hams Rabah) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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