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Risk Assessment for Umm Qais Archaeological Site. This study was prepared during a Master course in Preventive Conservation. Department of Conservation and Management of Cultural Resources Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology Yarmouk University. Introduction Historical overview Umm Qais
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This study was prepared during a Master course in Preventive Conservation. Department of Conservation and Management of Cultural Resources Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology Yarmouk University
Introduction Historical overview Umm Qais Risk Assessment Why Risk Assessment Risk assessment Methodology Risk assessment Term and Concepts Types of Risks Threating Umm Qais Table of Content
Jordan is a very rich country of archaeological sites, It is like an open museum. Over the history this region was invaded and governed by many forces. Introduction
Evidences of settlement of Hittites, Egyptians, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arab Muslims, Christian Crusaders, Mameluks,, and finally the Ottoman Turks were found in different locations in Jordan.
Umm Qais is situated 110 km north of Amman (378 m above sea level) ,with a magnificent view over the Yarmouk River, the Golan Heights, and Lake Tiberias. This town was known as Gadara, one of the most brilliant ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis. Umm Qais - Gadara
The Decapolis was a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire, all Decapolis cities was located in the modern Jordan except Damascus. • The word Decapolis is a Greek word means the ten cities (Deka : ten, polis : cities). Gadara in the Decapolis league
Archaeological remains at Umm Qais site denote that it was an important and strategic site for at least three great Empires that dominate this area in the past. • The main remains at the site are from the Greek, Roman, and Ottoman empires. UMM Qais
Risk assessment is a part of risk management. There is no one single definitions of risk assessment, it depends on the context under consideration.
It also can be defined as a scientific and mathematical probability of the possible risk in certain activities or at certain places. .
Generally it means the determination of qualitative and quantitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat. Generally
It is essentially a ‘what could happen?’ scenario using statistics from many different sources including prior statistics, environmental issues including weather patterns and fault lines. along with many other sources to assess a scientific and mathematical value of the possibility that a certain or harmful event may occur.
As all archeological sites in Jordan and all over the world, Umm Qais is threatened by many risks from various types. These risks are increasing over the time, it had degraded many values of the site. -If not studied and managed as soon as possible, these risks will definitely continue to cause a great deal of damage to the site and it’s elements. Why Risk Assessment for Umm Qais
Risk assessment results enable the decision makers including the site manager and authorities in responsibility (DoA) to recognize the types and magnitudes of risks threating the site, in order to take right action towards the protection of the site. Who Will Take It
Regardless, the allocated amount of money, it is impossible to undertake all recommended actions towards the protection and preservation of the site. These results will also assist in arranging priorities and considering the most needed action. Priority at Limited Resources
Risk assessment methodology The work will be divided into two main Phases.
The work will be divided into two main Phases. First Phase will deal with the identification of risks and assessment of their magnitudes. Second Phases will deal with the identification of prevention, mitigation and/or controlling strategies and recommendation to be presented to the authorities responsible for the site. Phases to Whom
note: Not all risks can have controlling strategies also the efficiency of the proposed strategies will vary according to some limitations related to many human(trained staff),technical(equipments & technology) and economicalresources.
The site will be studied in general as one unit, also it will be divided into site elements or features. The major and prominent elements will be studied in details. What parts or elements
Theaters (Greco-Roman period) Vaulted Shops Nymphaeum Roman Baths Complex Tombs The Western Gate\Gate of Tiberias The Terrace Centralized Church Living Quarters (Ottoman period) Main site elements
Three major concepts describing and assessing the condition and vulnerability will be introduced in this study, Disturbances, Threats and Risks. Risk assessment Term and Concepts
Disturbance: (إختلال) is a detectable negative effect on the site or site element by natural forces or human activities (Mega-J Guidelines).
Threat:(تهديد) is a detectable phenomenon, whether natural forces or human activities, that appears to predict a future disturbance to a site or element. Threatcan also be phenomena that are causing ongoing disturbances to a site or element and that are predicted to continue to negatively affect the site or element into the future (Mega-J Guidelines).
Risk:(خطر) isthe probability of a certain agent of deterioration to occur within a certain timespan that may harm the aspects valued by human beings. The actual damaging effect of the harmful event or process is related to its intensity and to the vulnerability of the heritage place or component. The probability that a certain kind of damage is realized, e.g. the probability of fire
Risks can be categorized into three main categories : • Natural Risks • Human and Social Risks • Other(Technical, Organizational and Managerial) Risk Risks Threating Umm Qais
Is caused by the effect of the nature and the environment on the site as a whole unit and / on the site elements and materials composing site elements. • Some of natural risks are predictable such as heavy rain but most of them are not, like earthquake, volcanic eruptions. Natural Risks
Most of natural risks are unpreventable, and if it occur a great damaging impact on the site. • A set of mitigation strategies, polices and recommendations can be developed to eliminate the devastating effect of natural risks.
Including • Over visiting • People in site • People around the site • Terrorism • Unsympathetic • Vandalism- theft • Armed conflict • Traffic Human and Social Risk
Mainly • Technical Risks • Available technology • Material availability • Organizational external risks • Authorization • Fund and investment • Priorities change • Managerial risks • Experience • Adequate team • …………. Other Risks