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ABSTRACT – Archaeology and colonialism are strictly intertwined in Jordan, and such a relation is fuelled by a culture of welfarism that traps the host communities in a vicious cycle brokered by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreign donors. This article presents the work of Sela for Training and Protection of Heritage, a Jordanian non-for-profit company, which is attempting to change the status quo by actively engaging Jordanians in the management and protection of their heritage.