The Origins of the Sugar Industry in Jordan: Latest results of the Ghawr as-Sāfī Project

The 2018 ACOR Public Lecture Series Presents: “The Origins of the Sugar Industry in Jordan: Latest results of the Ghawr aṣ-Ṣāfī Project,” an ACOR & USAID SCHEP Lecture by Konstantinos D. Politis. This blog post is adapted from Dino’s lecture on November 7, 2018.

About the Lecture:

The Ghawr aṣ-Ṣāfī project, which began in 1997, conducted its final fieldwork season in 2018. Alongside preparations of final reports for the project, the last two years of work at the site have produced fabulous results, particularly at the Maṣna‘ as-Sukkar (sugar factory) dated to the 12th to 15th century. This lecture will focus on new discoveries not yet shown to the public, and presents conclusions on the origins of the sugar industry, particularly in Jordan. There will also be an update on recent work supported by USAID Sustainable Cultural Heritage Through Engagement of Local Communities Project (SCHEP), including development of the site for tourism, educational awareness, and the local community.

The Ghawr aṣ-Ṣāfī project is supported by the USAID SCHEP, implemented by ACOR, the Archaeological Institute of America and Hilton Worldwide, and the Al-Hima Foundation.

About the Lecturer:

Konstaninos D. Politis (also known as Dino), is an archaeologist educated in Greece, the U.S., Belgium, and Britain. Specialized in the Byzantine and early Islamic periods, Dino was based at the British Museum (1988–2011) and most recently at the University of Athens. He is currently working on the publication of Khirbet Qazone, Jordan. Dino is author of many publications, including The Sanctuary of Lot at Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata in Jordan (2012). He has worked with Jordanian and Greek governments to conserve and shelter the Monastery of St. Lot and to develop the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth at the Dead Sea. Dino’s seminal research on ‘The Origins of the Sugar Industry,’ supported by the European Union, has resulted in a book and exhibition. To find out more, also see Dino’s ACOR lecture on the sugar industry from March 2016: https://acorjordan.org/2016/03/02/sugar-safi-and-schep/

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