Jordan Recovers Archaeological Artifacts From U.S.-Doa

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, Mar. 27 (Petra) – The Department of Antiquities (DoA) announced on Thursday recovery of a collection of Jordanian artifacts from the United States.
An individual acquired these artifacts during the 1960s, prior to the issuance of the 1976 Antiquities Law, which prohibits trade in antiquities, according to a DoA statement.
The achievement is part of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to protect its cultural heritage and recover its archaeological properties.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab stressed the importance of these efforts in preserving Jordan's cultural heritage, praising the DoA's "prominent" role in coordinating and monitoring Jordanian cultural heritage locally and globally.
In cooperation with the DoA, Annab noted the ministry is making "intensive" efforts to enhance international cooperation and harness diplomatic channels to ensure recovery of the artifacts to Jordan.
Annab stated this step is "important" in ensuring the continued preservation of Jordan's historical identity and its cultural heritage for future generations.
The minister noted the "significant" role played by the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Jordanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., in following up and coordinating with the DoA and facilitating the "safe" arrival of the recovered artifacts to the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the DoA Acting Director General, Aktham Najdawi, said this step comes within the framework of the department's national strategy to preserve the Kingdom's archaeological heritage.
Monitoring Jordanian artifacts is the foundation of the AoD's work and requires "continuous" international coordination with governments and organizations concerned with preserving cultural heritage, he pointed out.
He said the recovered artifacts included pottery vessels, jars, plates, lamps, glass bottles and bracelets, and beads, as well as other archaeological tools, which represent a part of Jordanian national identity and bear witness to the Kingdom's "rich" history and civilization.
The achievement was made, thanks to the cooperation of the family of Dr. John Anderson Roper, who lived in Jordan for over thirty years as a physician at Al-Iman Hospital in Ajloun Governorate and collected artifacts and art works during his stay.
Jordan has succeeded in returning artifacts from several countries in recent years, as part of international cooperation to protect cultural heritage and prevent smuggling of cultural property, the ststement remarked.

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