Jordan launched the Conservation and Restoration Center for Antiquities in Jerash in September 2024 to enhance the protection of the nation’s historical assets. Director General of the Department of Antiquities Dr. Fawzi Abu Danah stated, "The Conservation and Restoration Center in Jerash is one of the country’s leading specialized facilities for safeguarding Jordanian cultural heritage, relying on a precise and integrated scientific methodology to handle various types of archaeological finds and materials, archaeological sites, architectural elements, mosaic floors and wall paintings." The facility provides technical capacity for managing diverse artifacts discovered across the region. Officials established the center to provide a centralized hub for the preservation of antiquities through standardized scientific practices.
Restoration Efforts and Projects
Nearly 100 artifacts and archaeological sites have undergone conservation and restoration at the center since it began operations in September 2024. These interventions address varied materials and structures requiring technical care to ensure long-term stability.
Staff members are currently overseeing a project to conserve, restore and rehabilitate part of the ancient Jerash city wall. This work focuses on stabilizing the masonry and repairing structural damage to the historical boundary.
Simultaneously, the center is managing a project to establish a full national database of mortar used in archaeological site restoration. This initiative aims to record the chemical composition and technical specifications of mortars applied across different heritage locations. By centralizing this data, the facility intends to standardize the materials used in future preservation efforts across the country. Through these projects, the center applies scientific methods to manage both individual finds and larger architectural elements within the archaeological landscape.
Building National Technical Capacity
The Department of Antiquities selected 15 trainees for specialized instruction in conservation and restoration techniques at the Jerash facility. These participants receive hands-on experience in managing archaeological materials, aligning with the center's goal to improve internal expertise in heritage preservation.
Beyond this targeted group, the center serves as a broader educational hub for the organization. Around 85 employees of the Department of Antiquities have benefited from the center’s training programs since operations began. These programs offer technical knowledge regarding the stabilization of artifacts and the application of standardized scientific practices across Jordanian heritage sites. By expanding the professional skills of its workforce, the Department of Antiquities seeks to ensure that staff members across the country can apply consistent methods to the maintenance of historical assets. The training initiatives form a core component of the center’s mission to increase national capacity for long-term site management and artifact care.
Economic Impact and Leadership
His Majesty King Abdullah II holds royal patronage over the center in Jerash. This oversight positions the facility within the broader framework of national initiatives intended to protect the cultural heritage of Jordan. By maintaining high-level institutional support, the center aligns its preservation activities with state priorities for cultural management and archaeological oversight.
Ongoing projects at the facility have generated 14 temporary employment opportunities. These roles support the execution of technical conservation tasks at the Jerash site and across other locations managed by the Department of Antiquities. Participants in these projects contribute to the stabilization of historical structures while gaining experience in restoration work. The center manages these positions as part of its operational efforts to integrate specialized labor into the maintenance of national heritage assets. These employment opportunities exist alongside the facility’s core mission of providing scientific, standardized care for archaeological materials found throughout the country.