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The Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum at the University of Jordan was established in 1962, coinciding with the founding of the university. At that time, it contained a limited number of artifacts. However, the importance of having an archaeological museum at the university encouraged the idea of renovating and developing it to align with the university’s distinguished academic standing. The Archaeological Museum is an educational museum, functioning as an open book, with its display cases serving as the pages. These cases house artifacts and cultural items that span from the ancient Stone Age to the end of the Islamic periods, organized chronologically.

In 1986, the museum relocated to its current location, now situated at the heart of the university campus, surrounded by green spaces. These areas have been utilized to exhibit additional artifacts and archaeological evidence in an outdoor museum format that captures the attention of students and fosters an appreciation of our national and cultural heritage.

The museum's collection was sourced from two main channels:

  1. The Department of Antiquities / Jordanian Museum.
  2. Excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology’s training program, which involved digs at several sites across Jordan, including Jerash, Petra, Tell al-Mazar, Tell Salama, Rujm al-Kursi, Yajouz, Tell Siran, Tell Abu Nseir, and Tell Abu al-Sawan.

Currently, the museum is equipped with the necessary scientific facilities to fulfill its academic role. It features exhibition halls, research rooms, as well as photography and archaeological drawing rooms, along with a conservation and restoration lab.

The Archaeological Museum aims to achieve the following objectives:
  1. Deepen scientific knowledge of Jordan's cultural heritage across various periods and foster national awareness among students, particularly those in the Department of Archaeology, as well as university students and visitors in general.
  2. Organize traveling exhibitions, both within the country and internationally.
  3. Strengthen academic and intellectual cooperation with cultural institutions and organizations of shared interest.​

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The National Heritage Museum 

The National Heritage Museum at the University of Jordan was established in 1981 and opened in its current location behind the "Clock Tower" next to the Archaeological Museum in 1986. The establishment of the museum was in response to the university's strong interest in preserving Jordan's heritage, safeguarding the legacy of the ancestors from loss and extinction, and creating a cultural record that documents the achievements of Jordanian society while reflecting the prevailing social values.

The museum aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the daily life of Jordanians in the villages and the Badia during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It displays a variety of artifacts, including agricultural tools, clothing, textiles, jewelry, cosmetics, handicrafts, hunting tools, and traditional medicine. Some of these items were collected by students from the Department of Sociology at the university, while the collection has been expanded through purchases and gifts.

As part of the university’s commitment to enhancing the museum's infrastructure, the National ​Heritage Museum was renovated in 2008. This project included updating display techniques, expanding interior spaces, and equipping the museum with the latest preservation equipment for heritage collections.

In a related development, School of Archaeology and Tourism celebrated the completion of the museum’s renovation project in November 2024. This project, which began the previous year, was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the American Center of Research (ACOR), and the Sustainability of Cultural Heritage with Community Engagement (SCHEB) project.

The local and international attention to cultural heritage reflects the importance of museums in social and economic development, in addition to their role as cultural and educational centers, emphasizing the university’s role in protecting and developing heritage.

The modernization of exhibition methods and the development of interior spaces contribute to enhancing the understanding of future generations of Jordan’s civilizational heritage and creating a sense of belonging.