Greek archaeologist Konstantinos Politis, known for his groundbreaking discoveries along Jordan’s Dead Sea shore, has died at age 67 following a series of strokes. Politis, widely known as Dino, played a pivotal role in uncovering important archaeological sites that shed new light on the region’s ancient Christian and Islamic history.

Politis’s most renowned work began in 1988 at Deir Ain ‘Abata, a site high above the southeastern shore of the Dead Sea. There, he excavated a cave traditionally believed to have sheltered the biblical figure Lot after the destruction of Sodom. Over seven excavation seasons between 1988 and 1996, Politis uncovered a Byzantine basilica constructed over the cave’s entrance, preserving mosaics dated to the 6th and 7th centuries CE. His discovery provided tangible archaeological confirmation of a site long revered in Christian tradition but previously undocumented.

The identification of the site as the Sanctuary of Lot was aided by a 1986 archaeological survey linking the location to a sanctuary depicted on the 6th-century Madaba mosaic map, a correspondence that had eluded researchers for over a century. Politis’s excavations revealed evidence of continuous human activity spanning nearly 5,000 years, extending back to the Early Bronze Age.

Among his findings was a mass burial of 32 individuals, presumed to be monks, in a disused cistern beneath the church. Many of these adults displayed signs of degenerative disease, leading Politis to suggest the monastery also functioned as a hospice. Mosaics inscribed with the name of a local bishop, Christoforos, as well as a steward and a governor, dated to 691 CE, demonstrate that Christian communities continued worshipping and embellishing the sanctuary well into early Umayyad rule, illustrating coexistence under Muslim governance.

Politis dedicated nearly two decades to conserving and interpreting the site, culminating in a major publication in 2012. His work attracted international attention and featured in documentary programs produced by organizations such as National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. In Jordan, he collaborated with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to establish the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth, which opened in 2012 near the Dead Sea at 405 meters below sea level. The museum became a center for conservation and capacity building, training local staff in museology and artifact preservation.

Beyond Deir Ain ‘Abata, Politis was instrumental in rescuing endangered archaeological remains elsewhere in Jordan. In 1996, he intervened at Khirbat Qazone, where bulldozers had disturbed a large Nabataean and Roman period cemetery. He recovered well-preserved remains, including a salt- and heat-desiccated body now housed at Yarmouk University, and meticulously documented thousands of graves. One notable find was a woman’s tombstone marked “Afseni, the pretty girl.”

Beginning in 1997, Politis expanded his work to the ancient region of Zoara at Ghawr as-Safi, uncovering evidence that spans from prehistoric times through the Islamic periods. His research identified the remains of the largest medieval sugar factory known in Jordan and Palestine at Tawahin as-Sukkar, which operated during Crusader and Mamluk rule from the 12th to 14th centuries. This industrial site included mills, presses, and furnaces, revealing the scale of sugar production in the Dead Sea region.

Politis also highlighted the valley’s historical cultivation of indigo, an important dye plant that had waned after the introduction of synthetic alternatives. In 2013, his findings helped launch a UNESCO-supported project with the Safi Women’s Association to revive indigo farming as a community-based initiative, producing dyed textiles sold through the museum.

Together with museologist Georgios Papaioannou, Politis developed exhibitions showcasing the importance of sugar and indigo, while training local residents in site management and heritage protection. According to community members from Safi, Politis also contributed quietly to local welfare, providing schoolbooks and supplies for children annually.

Born in Kozani, Greece, Politis was the son of a Greek army officer and a schoolteacher. He studied archaeology extensively in Greece, the United States, Belgium, and Britain, earning an MA from the Institute of Archaeology at the University of London in 1984 and a PhD from the University of Ioannina in 2004. He first arrived in Jordan in 1984, working at Tell Umm Hammad esh-Sharqiya before joining the British Museum’s excavations at Tell es-Sa’idiyeh.

Politis’s career reflected a lifelong commitment not only to the excavation of Jordan’s rich archaeological landscape but also to the preservation and community engagement essential for safeguarding heritage in a rapidly changing world.