The Nabataeans in Focus: Current Archaeological Research at Petra; Papers from the Special Session of the Seminar for Arabian Studies Held on 29 July 2011

Recent archaeological research at Petra, Jordan, has uncovered significant insights into Nabataean culture, architecture, and economy. A major discovery includes the identification of a royal residence on the Umm al-Biyara Plateau, featuring luxurious elements such as heated bathing facilities and marble sculptures, which suggests influence from Herodian architecture while addressing water procurement challenges in arid landscapes. Additionally, intensive surveys north of Petra have revealed human activity dating back to the Paleolithic era, with notable increases in settlement during the Hellenistic and Roman periods (50 BCE–250 CE). Excavations near the Qasr al-Bint have pushed back the earliest phases of Nabataean settlement to the fourth century BCE, contradicting historical accounts of the Nabataeans as nomads. The research also highlights the development of shaft tombs and their potential conversion into façade tombs, influenced by Alexandrian architecture, and explores the transition from pagan shrines to Christian monasteries at Jabal Hārūn. Furthermore, the study reconsiders the dating of sections of the Incense Road, demonstrating its evolution from Nabataean to Roman phases post-annexation (106 CE). These findings are based on extensive surveys, excavations, and analyses of artifacts, inscriptions, and architectural features.

Erickson-Gini, T. (2013). The Nabataeans in Focus: Current Archaeological Research at Petra; Papers from the Special Session of the Seminar for Arabian Studies Held on 29 July 2011. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 1(3), 251–254. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.1.3.0251