This Basalt Rock Art project, sponsored by UNESCO and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Jordan as well as UN Women, aims to support the women in the area of Um el Jimal by assisting them to produce handicrafts out of the readily available basalt in the area.
My work with them involved chosing the items to be produced, encouraging the women to take the initiative to become working women, and putting in place a realistic system for operating.
Not without its challenges, which include cultural as well as practical, this project will hopefully realise its potential in the short run.
The website for the project features the full story of the location of Um el Jimal, the archaeological site, as well as the artisans that I worked with who create the pieces.
