<< Sites under Threat >> Undiscovered sites threatened by construction boom - Jordan
Submitted by Andy B on Tuesday, 17 October 2006 Page Views: 3107
Site WatchCountry: Jordan The country's construction boom and the general lack of awareness in society are threatening Jordan's archaeological heritage and resulting in the destruction of many undiscovered sites in and around the city. This, according to the Department of Antiquities inspector of Amman, Adeib Abu Shmais, who along with five others are responsible for ensuring development sites are clear of archaeological artefacts before building begins.If archaeological objects are found, they have to be properly documented and an excavation may need to take place.
"Sometimes we find that the developers remove things from the surface before we can inspect the site. They do this because they don't want their work to be postponed by excavations," Abu Shmais told The Jordan Times.
"This is a problem we have in Amman. People aren't aware of what they may have on their land. People don't have an appreciation for culture," he added.
Occasionally structures under the ground are accidentally bulldozed or building sites nearby dump their materials on archaeology sites that are supposed to be protected.
Though people can be fined for such actions, Abu Shmais says a limited budget prevents the department from apprehending all offenders.
More: menafn.com
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