Press Release

Jordanian Heritage Authorities, The Getty Conservation Institute and World Monuments Fund Launch Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities

Under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, The Jordanian Department of Antiquities (DoA), the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) in Los Angeles, and World Monuments Fund (WMF) today are launching the Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities, Jordan—MEGA-Jordan or MEGA-J —an Arabic-English, webbased geographic information system (GIS) that aims to standardize and centralize information on archaeological sites throughout the country into a single system.

“The preservation of Jordan’s archaeological heritage depends upon a comprehensive understanding of historic site locations, dimensions, and their key characteristics, but the boundaries of ancient cities and sites are increasingly at risk from a range of threats including tourism and urban encroachment,” said Dr. Ziad Al-Sa’ad, Director General of the DoA. “The database will greatly facilitate the work of the DoA staff, Jordanian scholars and academic colleagues worldwide, and will play an important role in preserving Jordan's archaeological treasures.”

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