Jordan Times
Friday, March 25, 2005
Cultural heritage
training course for Iraqis concludes
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN — Fifteen Iraqi archaeologists who took
part in a 5-week cultural heritage training course for Iraqis concluded their
programme this week.
Iraqi archaeologists received training on the latest methods of excavation,
conservation and management of archaeological sites from experts on cultural
heritage from Germany, France, UNESCO and Japan.
“The course is part of a series of programmes extended to Iraqis in Jordan with
the contribution of local and international experts,” Abdul Sami Abu Dayyeh,
head of the museums and laboratories department at the Department of
Antiquities, told The Jordan Times at the closing ceremony.
“The programme provided both the Jordanians and the Iraqis with the opportunity
to work jointly with the spirit of one team,” he added.
Archaeologists can expect more future courses for Iraqis and greater cooperation
between the two countries, Abu Dayyeh noted. The Iraqis were trained at the
Kingdom's archaeological sites and had the department's labs, devices and
offices at their disposal, he added.
Chairman of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Iraq Abdul Aziz Hamid
thanked Jordan for facilitating and organising such programmes, saying the
training would enable Iraqi personnel to carry out restoration work on the
country's archaeological and heritage sites that suffered damage during the war.
“The programme was comprehensive... The group had field training in Petra,
Jerash, Deir Alla and Umm Qais and learned how to use modern equipment,”
Mohammad Saeed, an Iraqi archaeology expert who participated in the programme,
told The Jordan Times.
Ali Kathem, an archaeologist from the Qar Directorate of Archaeology, echoed
Saeed's remarks, saying the programme had introduced them to important advances
in the field of archaeology, “especially since we were isolated from the world
for a long time.”
As part of the training, German specialists in site management and stone
restoration delivered lectures on international rules of conservation, while
French experts covered topics ranging from environmental concerns and relations
between excavators and museum officials to mudbrick, an ancient building
material found in Iraq.
The programme was supported and coordinated by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency.