Baptism Site of Jordan - Jordan

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>>>The Baptism Site of Jordan, Bethany beyond the Jordan

Name	The Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ (Almaghtas)
Place	Balqa governorate, Jordan Valley
Country	Jordan
Author(s)	Nawar H.Sabeeleish
World Heritage	2015

Why is this case relevant?

The Baptism Site represents an evidence of what a society considers a “Holy place” and has been venerated as such since the Byzantine period, at least. It represents an example on how the geography, and Roman and Byzantine epochs have influenced the context, and for these reasons the site is chosen.

The site gained its religious significance, because it is the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist. The site also embraces two archaeological areas; The remnants of a monastery on a mound known as Tell Mar-Elias, and an area near the river with roman and byzantine remains of churches and caves used by hermits and pilgrims as dwellings and ponds in which baptisms were celebrated. And therefore, the site is inscribed in the UNESCO list of 2015. The site is listed as a cultural property, according to the UNESCO selection criteria:

III. The site bears a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.

VI. The site directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/

Which idea of ‘design with nature’ guides the design concept of this site?

The area is said to be highly maintained, since it was classified as a Jordanian archeological site by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities after the completion of excavations that began in 1996. And the management plan set is adequate; The site and its buffer zone is protected under the Jordan Valley Authority Laws, and on the site level it is managed under the laws of the Baptism Site Commission. The archaeological remains in the site have been conserved in their original materials, and some have been restored using similar materials, to preserve the authenticity of the area. If maintenance and management strategies are missing, the site is expected to lose its religious, cultural and archaeological significance. Decay, Rot, and collapses are also expected.

Which challenges is this landscape facing?

• The main challenges from my perception are:

1. The site has a sensitive political challenge due to the shared waters with occupied Palestine “Israel”. And despite all the documents which prove that Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordanian side of the river, Israel has not stopped trying to attribute it to the occupied side of the Jordan River.[1]

2. The contemporary practice of pilgrimage to the site and Baptism rituals on site could lead to man-made negative impacts, resulting in decay, especially that the rocks of the site consists of Lisan Marl, with thin layers of chalk and clay.[2]

3. Delegations caused by Climatic and Environmental Stresses.

4. Lack of regular maintenance.

What would be your strategy for improvement?

Finally, please share some ideas of how you would initiate positive change for your heritage area

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References

1. Roi Kais, Itamar Eichner (June 07, 2015): https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4676695,00.html

2. http://www.jordanbeauty.com/BaptismSite.html

- http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/

- https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1446

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Maghtas#Israelites'_crossing_of_the_Jordan

- https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6155/

- http://www.baptismsite.com/archeological-findings/

-Tharoor, Ishaan (July 13, 2015): "U.N. backs Jordan's claim on site where Jesus was baptized". The Washington Post

- 2015: https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1312/

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