The Department of Antiquities is a government department in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with responsibility for archaeological research and cultural heritage management. It is part of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The department was established in 1923 in what was then the Emirate of Transjordan, a protectorate of the British Empire. Its responsibilities are legislated for in laws no. 24 of 1934, no. 21 of 1988 and no. 22 of 2004. The department has published an academic journal, the Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, since 1951, and has organised an international conference on the history and archaeology of Jordan every three years since 1980. It also maintains a comprehensive public geographic information system and database of archaeological sites in the country, developed in cooperation with the Getty Conservation Institute, the Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities – Jordan (MEGA-J). Publications Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (ADAJ) Directors general The department is headed by a director general. Ridha Tawfiq, 1923–1928 Tawfiq Abu al-Huda, 1929 Ala Edein Toqan, 1931 Adeeb al-Kayed, 1933 Hisham Kair, 1933–1939 Gerald Lankester Harding, 1939–1956. Harding's book "The Antiquities of Jordan" is still considered a reference to this day. Abd el–Kareem Gharaybeh, 1956 Saeed al-Durrah, 1956–1959 Awni al-Dajani, 1959–1968. Al-Dajani is the first Jordanian holder of a Ph.D. in Archaeology. Michael Jmaiaan, 1968 Yaacoub Ouais, 1968–1971 and 1972–1977 Mansour al-Bataineh, 1971–1972 Adnan al-Hadidi 1977–1989 Ghazi Bishah, 1989–1991 and 1994–1999 Safwan al-Tall, 1991–1994 Fawwaz al-Khraysheh, 1999–2010 Ziad al-Saad, 2010–2011 Faris al-Hmoud, 2011–2013 Monther Jamhawi, 2013–2018 Yazeed Alian, 2018-2021 Ahmed Shami, (acting) Feb 2021-July 2021 Hisham al-Abadi, since July 2021 See also Department of Antiquities References External links Official website (English) Official website (Arabic) MEGA-J Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Jordan) Jordan, Antiquities, Department of Archaeology of Jordan Government agencies established in 1923