Greek archaeologist Konstantinos “Dino” Politis, whose decades of work helped uncover, preserve, and interpret some of Jordan’s most important archaeological landscapes, has died, leaving behind a remarkable legacy stretching from the shores of the Dead Sea to the country’s museums and research institutions.
For more than four decades, Politis was a familiar figure in Jordanian archaeology. His work took him across the country, but the southern Dead Sea region, particularly Ghor Safi and the ancient city of Zoara, became the defining landscape of his career.
A specialist in the Byzantine, Late Antique, and Early Islamic periods, Politis combined excavation with conservation, research, and public engagement. His work helped bring international attention to archaeological sites that reveal the complex history of the region across thousands of years.
Colleagues in Jordan have remembered not only his scholarship but also his generosity, enthusiasm, and enduring commitment to the country he regarded as a second home.
A Greek archaeologist finds a second home in Jordan
Politis’ connection with Jordan began in the 1980s and continued throughout his life. Educated in Greece, the United States, Britain, and Belgium, he went on to establish an international archaeological career that included work at the British Museum. But it was Jordan that became central to his professional life.
He became particularly associated with Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata, near the southeastern shores of the Dead Sea, where archaeological investigations revealed an important Christian sanctuary connected with the biblical tradition of Lot and his daughters. The site, known as the Sanctuary of Lot, contains the remains of a church and monastic complex with elaborate mosaics and inscriptions. Politis played a central role in its excavation and study, helping transform a site threatened by erosion into one of the most significant archaeological locations in the region.
His work there opened a window into the religious and social life of the Byzantine and early Islamic periods and became one of the defining achievements of his career.
Ancient Zoara and the archaeology of Ghor Safi
Politis also devoted decades to studying the archaeological landscape around Ghor Safi, near the southern end of the Dead Sea. The region contains evidence of human activity extending back thousands of years and was home to ancient Zoara, a key settlement that survived through the Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods.
Through surveys and excavations, Politis and his colleagues documented churches, cemeteries, settlements, and industrial installations, contributing to a far broader understanding of how communities lived and worked in the harsh but strategically vital Dead Sea landscape.
His research also challenged simplistic ideas of abrupt historical change. Instead, his work traced notable continuities between the Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic worlds. The results of decades of research were eventually brought together in major publications, including the two-volume Ancient Landscapes of Zoara, documenting archaeological work in the Ghor Safi region.
Uncovering Jordan’s medieval sugar industry
Another major focus of Politis’ work was the medieval sugar industry. At Ghor Safi, he investigated the remains of Masna‘ as-Sukkar, a remarkably preserved industrial complex associated with sugar production during the medieval period. The archaeological remains include elements of the complex technology required to process sugar cane, from crushing and water management to the boiling stages of production.
The research offered an unusually detailed picture of an industry that connected the Jordan Valley with wider networks of medieval trade and commerce. Politis’ work was not limited to excavation reports and academic research. He was also deeply interested in making archaeology accessible and ensuring that local communities could benefit from cultural heritage.
Building a Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth
One of his most visible legacies is the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth, established near Lot’s Cave in the southern Dead Sea region. Politis was instrumental in the development of the museum, which presents the archaeology and history of the region through artifacts spanning thousands of years.
The museum brought together material from some of Jordan’s most important archaeological sites and created a place where research could be connected with education, tourism, and local heritage. For Politis, archaeology was not simply about uncovering ancient structures or publishing discoveries. It was also about preserving cultural heritage and helping people understand the landscapes in which they lived.
Remembered by colleagues and students
The response to Politis’ death has reflected the unusual breadth of his influence. In an obituary published by The Jordan Times, archaeologists who knew him remembered a meticulous scholar and gifted communicator but also a warm and generous colleague who encouraged younger researchers.
Professor Ignacio Arce described Politis as rigorous in his archaeological work while emphasizing his “humanity, warmth and generosity.” Others recalled his energy in the field and the enthusiasm with which he guided colleagues and students through the landscapes he had spent decades studying.
That combination of scholarship and personality appears repeatedly in tributes to Politis. For many in Jordan’s archaeological community, he was not simply an international scholar working in the country but a longtime friend whose professional life became inseparable from the archaeology of the region.
In Greece, he also maintained strong ties with the academic community, serving as chairperson of the Hellenic Society for Near Eastern Studies.
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