Jaunted

Where Are

King Solomon's Mines

October 28, 2008 at 12:03 PM | 0 Comments

Researchers in Jordan think they've uncovered the location of King Solomon's Mines, a copper-rich region that's inspired multiple films, including one starring Patrick Swayze and another featuring Sharon Stone and John Rhys-Davies.

The area, south of the Dead Sea in Jordan's Faynan district, is known in Arabic as Khirbat en-Nahas and includes roughly 100 ancient buildings. Artifacts recovered from the area as well as carbon dating helped researchers determine that the mines were used in the 10th century BC--and could prove the historical existence of King Solomon.

Lead researcher Thomas Levy says:

We can't believe everything ancient writings tell us. But this research represents a confluence between the archaeological and scientific data and the Bible.

Levy is now working with the government of Jordan to have the area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a status the nearby ancient village of Petra already enjoys.

Related Stories:
· Copper Ruins in Jordan Bolster Biblical Record [LAT]
· King Solomon's (Copper) Mines? [UCSD]
· High-Precision Radiocarbon Dating and Biblical Archaeology [PNAS, warning science content!]
· World Heritage Sites in Jordan [Official Site]

Design

Red Sea, Blue Site

May 11, 2006 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

The Jordan Tourist Board's brand-new website, is not only punny, but attractive and easily navigated as well. Its top banner sets an understated aesthetic tone that the site's sometimes bright visuals occasionally test, though never jarringly.

Several destinations grab some content on the site. Petra, an old-hat destination for archaeology and history buffs, is given its due here. The site also pushes the otherworldly landscapes of Wadi Rum, modern Amman, ancient Jerash, and Red Sea port town of Aqaba, among other places. Underwater photos taken off Aqaba are particularly breathtaking.

Some Visitor Toolbar features require pretty painless registration. The Itinerary Generator is the most useful registree-only feature on the site, with four itinerary options (General, Eco & Nature, History & Culture, and Religion & Faith) broken down into sample itineraries lasting between one and eleven days. Also interesting is the "did you know?" feature running next to articles on the right side of the site.

Jordan is quite safe for visitors, and this site certainly makes a good case for making a visit.