The Jordan Museum
The Jordan Museum is located in Ras al-Ein district of Amman, Jordan. Built in 2014, the museum is the largest museum in Jordan and hosts some of the country's most important archaeological findings.[1] Its two main permanent exhibitions are the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the Copper Scroll, and the 9000-year-old ʿAin Ghazal statues, which are among the oldest human statues ever made.[2]
Established
The museum presents artifacts from various prehistoric and antique archaeological sites in Jordan.[2]
The collections are arranged in chronological order. The museum also features lecture halls, outdoor exhibitions, a library, a conservation centre and an area for children's activities.[1] The museum was established by a committee headed by Queen Rania, and became the only museum in Jordan to implement modern artifact-preserving technologies.[3]
Background[edit]
The Jordan Archaeological Museum was established in 1951, atop Amman's Citadel Hill, to host Jordan's most important archaeological findings. However, the old site became too small and the idea of developing a new modern museum emerged in 2005.[3] A joint committee headed by Queen Rania became responsible for developing the idea of a new modern museum by international standards. Construction started in 2009 and the museum was officially opened in 2014, spanning over 10,000 square meters.[3]
Location[edit]
The museum is located in the Ras al-Ein area near downtown Amman, adjacent to the Greater Amman Municipality headquarters. It is only a street away (20-minute's walk) from major archaeological sites in Amman such as the Roman theater, Nymphaeum, Amman Citadel and Hashemite Plaza.[1]