US embassy cable - 04AMMAN2696

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/PPD DBENZE 
ECA/P/C/ Grachel Kubaitis 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, SCUL, KPAO, XF, JO 
SUBJECT:  Ambassador's Fund proposal 
 
 
1. Proposal Summary 
The American Embassy in Amman seeks a grant in the amount of 
$29,628.96 to conserve and present Khirbet Salameh, an 
ancient farmhouse founded initially in the 3rd century B.C. 
The purpose of this project is two-fold: to preserve and 
present an important cultural heritage site that is in 
immediate danger of deterioration by natural elements and to 
provide training in cultural heritage preservation to 
Jordanian students in a field school setting. Presentation 
of the site will include the installation of walking paths 
and eight informational panels which will inform all 
visitors, including school groups, of the cultural 
significance of the site. 
 
2. Detailed description of the project and participants, 
including the time frame for completion. 
The American Embassy in Amman, Jordan seeks a grant to 
preserve and present Khirbet Salameh, an ancient farmhouse 
founded initially in the 3rd century B.C. The purpose of 
this project is to preserve and present an important 
cultural heritage site that is in immediate danger of 
deterioration by natural elements and to provide training in 
cultural heritage preservation to Jordanian students in a 
field school setting. The project will be undertaken by the 
American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR). 
 
Founded in 1968, ACOR is a private, non-profit, academic 
institution with extensive experience in preserving the 
cultural heritage of Jordan. ACOR, in cooperation with the 
Department of Antiquities of Jordan, has been involved in 
the excavation and preservation of numerous sites in the 
country. The project will be supervised by Dr. Pierre Bikai, 
an archaeologist with significant experience in directing 
the excavation, restoration, and presentation of 
archaeological sites in Jordan. Dr. Bikai holds a Ph.D. in 
Near Eastern Studies (Archaeology) from U.C., Berkeley and 
has been director of ACOR since 1991. 
 
Khirbet Salameh is an ancient farmhouse that was first built 
in the 3rd Century B.C. The house is a square structure, 
with sides of 23.5 m each, that contains a courtyard and 14 
rooms. The project will require three months to complete and 
will be accomplished in three stages: cleaning, restoration, 
and presentation. Each stage will require approximately one 
month. After the site is cleaned of debris and weeds, the 
walls will be consolidated with lime and sand. Three 
collapsed arches will also be restored. During the 
presentation stage, non-fragile restored artifacts will be 
placed in their original locations. In addition, clearly 
defined walkways will be established and informational signs 
will be strategically placed throughout the site. The 
project will be operated in a field school setting, and will 
employee 10 local students, 5 local workers, an historical 
architect, conservator, mason, and object restorer. 
 
3. Indication of the importance of the cultural site. 
Conveniently located opposite the University of Jordan and 
across the street from ACOR, Khirbet Salameh is easily 
accessible and would receive thousands of visitors annually 
if it was properly restored and presented. The site is 
unique in that it is not a large structure, which 
archaeologists traditionally tend to excavate, but rather a 
small farmhouse. However, the site is very impressive in 
terms of its tremendous cultural, educational, historical, 
and aesthetic values, and it will be the first of its kind 
in Jordan. 
 
4. Indication of the urgency of the project. 
Previously excavated as a field school project in1992 and 
1993, the site is rapidly deteriorating from natural 
elements, such as rain and growing plants. In a couple of 
years, the site will have lost much of its value. The U.S. 
contribution will allow ACOR to immediately halt the 
deterioration and preserve and present this important 
cultural heritage site. 
 
5. The impact of the U.S. contribution to the preservation 
project. 
Jordan is without natural resources in the traditional 
sense. However, the country does have two very important and 
valuable resources: a well educated population and its 
cultural heritage. Preservation of its cultural heritage is 
essential to Jordan's developing tourist industry, which is 
crucial to the country's economy. Jordan recognizes the 
importance of its cultural heritage sites; however, the 
government lacks the funds necessary to preserve even the 
most important sites. Khirbet Salameh will make a valuable 
addition to the very few well-preserved sites located in 
Amman. 
 
6. Benefit to the advancement of U.S. foreign policy 
objectives. 
This project meets U.S. foreign policy objectives in that it 
will provide American assistance to Jordan that is non- 
commercial, non-political, and non-military in nature. This 
project will preserve an archaeological site that is 
important to the cultural heritage of Jordan, while at the 
same time providing invaluable training in cultural heritage 
preservation to Jordanian students. Very importantly, this 
project will provide a wonderful opportunity for educational 
and cultural exchange between Jordanians and Americans. It 
will increase understanding and reinforce the strong and 
positive relations between Americans and Jordanians. 
 
7. Detailed budget. 
This proposal requests $29,628.96 to preserve and present 
Khirbet Salameh in a one-time three-month project. This 
amount will be sufficient to purchase the materials, hire 
the necessary employees, and administer the project. See 
Detailed Budget for breakdown of expenses. 
 
8. Other funding sources. 
As part of the project, ACOR will provide a total of $13,000 
in cost sharing. This amount includes 60 days of Dr. Bikai's 
services ($10,200), laboratory rental ($1,200), crane rental 
($1,000), and plane fare for the historical architect 
($600).  #GNEHM