AMMAN - Thousands of years of history went virtual on Tuesday as experts launched a new web-based Geographic Information System to document and protect the Kingdom’s archaeological sites.

The Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities (MEGA) Jordan is a joint initiative by the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), the Department of Antiquities (DoA) and the World Monuments Fund (WMF).

From Ottoman era homes to desert tombs, MEGA-Jordan lists information on the 10,470 documented heritage sites across the country, giving researchers and visitors alike the ability to access the Kingdom’s archaeological sites with the click of a mouse.

According to the DoA, the system aims to enable decision makers at the municipal, governorate and national levels to coordinate and reduce the potential impact of modern developments on the remnants of the Kingdom’s storied past.

“The preservation of Jordan’s archaeological heritage not only depends upon a comprehensive understanding of historic site locations, dimensions and their key characteristics, but the boundaries of ancient cities and sites increasingly at risk from a range of threats including tourism and urban encroachment,” DoA Director Ziad Saad said.

According to the department, the danger posed by poor coordination amongst decision makers has long been documented: Roads have cut through prehistoric settlements, and millennial tombs have been bulldozed all due to a lack of communication.

Amongst the footprints of civilisations past, MEGA-Jordan pays particular focus to the Kingdom’s three World Heritage Sites - Qusayr Amra, Petra and Um Rassas - to ensure officials continue to meet World Heritage site standards and avert any potential natural or manmade threats.

HRH Princess Sumaya said the launch of the web-based geo-database system comes as part of Jordan’s longstanding commitment to conserving its rich history.

“Jordan was one of the early regional leaders in heritage documentation. This was born out of our recognition of the importance of archaeology, not only to our own population - regardless of religion or ethnicity - but to the world,” she noted.

Accessible online at www.megajordan.org, the database also serves as a useful tool for tourists looking to venture off the beaten track and explore some of the Kingdom’s lesser-known archaeological treasures, Saad added.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, WMF Middle East representative Gaetano Palumbo and GCI Director Tim Whalen also attended yesterday’s ceremony.