Amman: His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal chaired a meeting on Wednesday to review preparations for the 16th International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan, set to take place in Athens next September.
According to Jordan News Agency, Prince El Hassan emphasized the importance of increasing heritage awareness among younger generations and institutionalizing heritage preservation. He highlighted the necessity of standardizing scientific terminology in heritage studies and improving coordination within this field.
Prince El Hassan proposed the establishment of a Jordanian cultural heritage platform aimed at connecting experts and professionals, which would foster collaboration for protection and sustainability. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, the Minister of Culture, senior officials, and representatives of international institutions and heritage organizations in Jordan.
Attendees discussed the conference's role in facilitating knowledge exchange and improving cooperation in research and restoration efforts. They reiterated their commitment to ensuring the success of the Athens conference, which aims to spotlight Jordan's cultural and historical legacy on a global stage.
Discussions also covered ongoing coordination to finalize organizational arrangements, with a particular focus on showcasing Jordan's efforts in preserving archaeological sites and protecting their unique identity. Participants emphasized that cultural heritage is crucial in reinforcing national identity and fostering regional and international cultural dialogue.
The conference will address key topics such as archaeology, identity, and human rights; Jordan's cultural history based on historical and epigraphic evidence; advancements in archaeological research and documentation; and East-West cultural interactions from an archaeological perspective.
Initiated by Prince El Hassan in the 1980s at Oxford University, the conference is held every three years and remains a premier international gathering for researchers in archaeology, cultural history, and related disciplines. It offers a platform for scholars to present their latest findings and build academic networks, further promoting Jordan's historical and archaeological heritage at local, regional, and international levels.
The previous edition of the conference took place in Jordan under Prince El Hassan's patronage and was organized by the Department of Antiquities in collaboration with Yarmouk University.