The Baptism Archaeological Site of Bethany Beyond Jordan: Towards an Assessment for a Management Plan

Abstract

Thanks to the 1996 archaeological excavations on the eastern side of the Jordan River, the Jesus baptism archaeological site of Bethany beyond Jordan was identified. This internationally significant historical and religious site has the potential to become one of the most popular stops on the regional Holy Land tourism circuit. The work up to date has identified 15 related sites, dated to the Roman and Byzantine periods, within an area of about 600 hectares. Most of the excavated sites are still under conservation and restoration and provide great challenges for the cultural heritage society. However, while the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan and other interested stakeholders and individuals believe that the site should be developed appropriately, people involved with conservation are generally more conservative and reluctant to encourage the use of the site for tourism purposes and activities, before understanding and evaluating the potential impacts.

The infrastructure system adapted to the site still suffers from many deficiencies, mainly related to insufficient planning practices, acting as a challenge for tourism and local community development. There is a need to evaluate and develop an appropriate religious and eco-tourism plan, to enhance consistent conservation within such a fragile historical and eco-religious context. This approach should consider several parameters related to a “sustainable holy and eco-site”, such as the environmental, spiritual, religious values, architecture, landscape qualities, and human comfort. This can mainly be achieved through systematic site management and planning, taking into consideration the issues of controlling use and monitoring in all phases of preservation and developing the site for modern use.

This paper attempts to present and evaluate, the impact of activities and services to the cultural significance of the site, taking into consideration the area status and the site's particularity and capacities. This will be achieved through: 1) a general understanding of why the baptism archaeological site should be preserved, by evaluating its cultural significance, the existing conditions, and defining the causes of deterioration and threats (natural and human), and 2) understanding how the cultural significance and the attraction factors of the baptism site, should guide and direct the management plan.

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