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Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth

Coordinates: 31°03′02″N 35°30′08″E / 31.050432°N 35.502295°E / 31.050432; 35.502295
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31°03′02″N 35°30′08″E / 31.050432°N 35.502295°E / 31.050432; 35.502295

Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth
Map
EstablishedMay 12, 2012 (2012-05-12)
LocationGhor es-Safi, Aghwar Janoobiyah District, Jordan
ArchitectGeorge Hakim

The Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth (Arabic: متحف أخفض مكان على الأرض) is an archaeological museum located in the Ghor es-Safi, Jordan.

History

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The idea for the creation of the museum dates back to the 1990s, when it was proposed by the Greek archaeologist Konstantinos Politis and the Jordanian Department of Antiquities after excavations in the wider area around Ghor es-Safi.[1] The Arab Potash Company (APC) originally financed the construction of the museum in 1996. The APC entrusted George Hakim with designing the museum building. In 2004, the government of Jordan financed the construction. In 2006, the museum building was completed. In 2007, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan contacted the Hellenic Society for Near Eastern Studies headed by Prof. Politis to complete the design of some of the museum's exhibits. The museum was inaugurated in 2012.[2]

Collections

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The museum contains collections of 5,000-year-old Bronze Age ceramics,[3][4] Greco-Roman vestments discovered at Khirbat Qayzun,[5] Christian tombstones from Zoara, and a complete mosaic pavement from the Sanctuary of St Lot.[5]

The museum contains a laboratory for the restoration of antiquities, mainly dealing with mosaics.[6]

In addition, the museum has displays of handicraft products from communities in Jordan.[7]

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  • Museum hall
    Museum hall
  • Antique pottery
    Antique pottery
  • Bronze Age mould for metal tools, Faynan
    Bronze Age mould for metal tools, Faynan

References

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  1. ^ "متحف أخفض بقعة على الأرض ... عين مكان على كهف النبي لوط وحضارة الاغوار الجنوبية - أخبار سوق عمان المالي" [The Museum of the Lowest Place on Earth... A place in the Cave of the Prophet Lot and the Civilization of the Southern Jordan Valley...]. AmmanXchange. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  2. ^ Konstantinos D. Politis (2020). Ancient Landscapes of Zoara I: Surveys and Excavations at the Ghor as-Safi in Jordan, 1997–2018. Taylor & Francis. pp. 271–. ISBN 978-1-00-022229-6.
  3. ^ O'Keefe, Faisal (2013-04-17). "Jordan Valley Boasts the Lowest Museum on Earth". Green Prophet. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  4. ^ Rawashdeh, Saeb (2020-06-15). "Museum showcases artifacts, handicrafts from Ghor Safi heritage". The Jordan Times. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  5. ^ a b Teller, Matthew (2013). The Rough Guide to Jordan. Rough Guides UK. ISBN 978-1-4093-6499-3.
  6. ^ "متحف أَخفض بقعة على الارض". Department of Antiquities. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  7. ^ "افتتاح "متحف أخفض مكان على سطح الأرض" في غور الصافي". Alghad (in Arabic). 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
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