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Department of Antiquities

Services and Permissions

Building Permissions

The Department of Antiquities, through the different Antiquities Directorates grants building permits in cooperation with the Municipalities in the governorates, based on the Jordanian Antiquities Law. This is done with the aim of protecting the cultural heritage and to ensure that the parcel of land to be authorized for constructions does not contain any antiquities or artefacts, without any extra fees. The Procedure is as follows:
  • Check the parcel of land through the records of the Directorate of Antiquities.
  • Check the parcel of land through MEGA Jordan.
  • Field detection of the parcel of land by the competent authorities in the Directorate of Antiquities.
  • Filling a pledge of commitment from the owner of the land to stop digging if traces of antiquities or artefacts are found.

Permits for Events in Archaeological Sites

Instructions for holding events in archaeological sites
  • Applications for booking any archaeological site for events shall be submitted according to the prepared form, which includes the name, date of the event and the number of participants, in addition to the commitment to abide by the instructions and the form, one month prior to the date of the event.
  • Provide the Department with security clearance before the approval of the Department of the event.
  • Providing the Financial Director of the DoA with a check of 10,000 JD as a warranty in order to secure the site and keep it clean, and to clean the site after the end of the event immediately before 8 am the day after, then to obtain a report from the Inspector of the DoA on the cleanness of the site and to guarantee that there is no damage on it. Otherwise the DoA will hold the insurance check and do the necessary repairs with it.
  • Exclusion of weddings at the Umayyad Palace campus at the Citadel.
  • No temporary buildings may be erected at the site without the approval and supervision of the DoA, and they shall be removed instantly after the end of the event.
  • The applicants shall undertake to provide water, mobile toilets and electricity at the time of the event and remove it after its completion at their own expense.
  • Cars shall not be allowed to enter the site except for the service car and in coordination with the site supervisor from the DoA.
  • The applicant shall pay to the Department of Antiquities the amounts determined in the form of a donation to be deposited in the special account with the Ministry of Finance for later use in maintenance, restoration and publishing works.
  • The applicant shall pay 100 JD receivables for the employees of the DoA at the site during the event, for monitoring and inspecting, this amount shall be distributed by the DoA.
  • These instructions shall be reconsidered whenever the need to add or cancel sites or amend the contribution allowance.
  • These instruction are effective from 1/5/2004.

Excavations and Surveys Permissions

The Department of Antiquities seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of Jordan through cooperation with local and international authorities interested in the archeology sector, and to facilitate the work of research, surveys and archeological excavations in accordance with the Antiquities laws of in Jordan. Anyone who tends to carry out an archaeological work must apply for an official permit before starting work for a period not less than 90 days from the date of commencement. The procedures for requesting authorizations or permits for excavations and surveys or any work related to the Antiquities include the following:
Submit the Research Project which includes all the detailed information about the project which are:
  • Project title 
  • Aims and objectives 
  • Literature Review
  • The executing party and the participants in the project 
  • Project time plan and implementation methodology
  • Expected results
  • Features and characteristics of the project
Filling Security forms for project participants
After completion of the procedures and obtaining the approval, the owner and the supervisor of the project must contact the Department of Antiquities to complete the financial procedures for obtaining the permit.