Being Bedouin Around Petra: Life at a World Heritage Site in the Twenty-First Century

Petra, Jordan's UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1985 led to the resettlement of its semi-nomadic Bedouin inhabitants. Despite no longer living in the area, the Bedouin were designated UNESCO Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2005 for their deep cultural connection to the landscape. This paradox raises critical questions about identity and heritage when competing narratives—tourism, national discourse, Islamic Revival, and New Age spiritualism—shape the present. The study examines how these forces intersect with Bedouin life, revealing tensions between preservation, displacement, and cultural continuity.

Bille, M. (2022). Being Bedouin Around Petra. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781789201215