Launch of the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation’s Grant for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Roman Nymphaeum
Amman – The U.S. Embassy in Amman is pleased to announce the award of a nearly $200,000 grant to the Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research at the University of Jordan for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Roman Nymphaeum in downtown Amman. This grant is from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) established by the U.S. Congress in 2001 to support the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects, and forms of traditional cultural expression around the world.
This new AFCP grant is yet another investment in preserving Jordan’s past, and also an investment in securing Jordan’s future. As sites like this one are restored, they drive the creation of new jobs and attract more visitors to Jordan. Jordan has enormous promise as a premier tourist destination, not least because of the rich history on display here. The United States is proud to stand as a partner in this endeavor.
Since 2001, Jordan has received nearly $1.3 million in grants to fund 12 unique cultural heritage preservation projects in places like Petra, al-Beidha, Umm al-Jimal, Abila, and the Jordan Valley. By taking a leading role in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, the United States shows its respect for other cultures. Since its inception, the Fund has supported more than 500 cultural preservation projects in more than 100 countries.
According to the Hamdi Mango Center, the Roman Nymphaeum in Amman was one of the principal buildings in the ancient city Philadelphia, now modern Amman. The monument was built over a cave that provided running water to the city and is located at the intersection of two major historic avenues.
For more information visit the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation’s page.
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AFCP Amman Fact Sheet
Since 2001, the Ambassador‘s Fund for Cultural Preservation has awarded 11 small grants and one large grant to preserve important archeological sites in Jordan, totaling $1,375,612.
- Preservation of the Siq al-Mudhlim near the Dead Sea, a Nabataean-era water tunnel and dam carved out of mountain rock and located in a popular hiking and nature area. (2003- $46,500)
- Preservation and interpretation of the Neolithic Village of Ghwair in Wadi Feinan, one of the best-preserved settlements representing all phases of the Neolithic period. (2005- $39,748)
- Preservation of Tall Hesbon Archaeological Site which consolidates important structures from the Roman, Mamluk, Umayyad, and Byzantine periods. (2005-$45,750)
- Consolidation of the wall paintings in Siq al Barid, Beidha; the finest and most extensive fragments of original plaster and Nabataean mural paintings dating from the first half of 1st century BC. (2006-$33,817)
- Preservation and access improvements to sites in the Decapolis City of Abila, a large area of ancient sites that enhance the understanding of life in the ancient Near East. (2007-$32,200)
- Restoration of Petra’s ancient Nabataean flood protection system that protects the Khazne courtyard from flash floods. (2010-$83,700)
- Conservation of the ruins of the 1st-century Temple of the Winged Lions at Petra. (2011- $600,000) (One of only three AFCP large grants for 2011)
- Preservation of the ruins of House XVIII at Umm el-Jimaal. (2011- $96,082)
- The second phase of the preservation of the ruins of Houses XVII and XVIII at Umm el-Jimal Archaeological Site. (2013- $45,000)
- The second phase of the ancient Nabataean flood protection system at Petra. (2013-$58,840)
- Conservation of the early 8th century Apodyterium at Qusayr ‘Amra. (2013-$99,700)
- The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Roman Nymphaeum in Amman (2014-$194,275)
