Petra Archaeological Park (PAP)
The region’s most important resource is the Petra Archaeological Park, which is one of the world’s richest and largest archaeological parks. Due to its outstanding universal value, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. The dramatic Nabataean and Hellenistic rock-cut temple and tombs (approached by a natural winding rocky cleft, the Siq, which is the main entrance from the east to a once extensive trading city) represent a unique artistic achievement. They are masterpieces of a lost city that has fascinated visitors since the early 19th century. The entrance approach and the settlement itself were made possible by the creative genius of the extensive water collection, distribution and storage system of the Nabataean people.
The Cultural Space of the Bedu in Petra and Wadi Rum was inscribed in 2008 on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity. Some families of Bedu tribes – namely from the Bidoul, the Ammaariin and the Sa’idiyyiin – continue to use the Nabataean water collection system and caves near Petra. The Bedu communities inhabiting this area keep a traditional pastoral culture and related skills alive. The Bedu of Petra and Wadi Rum have preserved specific knowledge related to flora and fauna of the area, traditional medicine, camel husbandry, tent-making, craftsmanship, as well as trekking and climbing skills. The monuments of the Petra World Heritage site are subject to ongoing erosion due to wind and rain, exacerbated by windblown sand due to reduced ground cover. They are also vulnerable to flash flooding along Wadi Musa through the winding gorge (Siq) if the Nabataean diversion system is not continually maintained. Moreover, the property is under pressure from tourism, which has increased twofold during the last 10 years, particularly at congestion points such as the Siq. In 2010 the total visitor number of the PAP has reached 909.474 visitors, which is coming close to the maximum carrying capacity of the park, currently estimated by UNESCO at about 1.26 million (UNESCO, 1994). The region is also vulnerable to the infrastructure needs (e.g. electricity, sewage treatment, transportation) of local communities.
see J. Starcky, Pétra et la Nabatène, in Dictionnaire de la Bible, supplément 7, Paris 1966, col. 886-1017
R. Wenning, Die Nabataer, Denkmaeler und Geschichte, Fribourg-Goettingen 1987
M. Lindner, Petra und das Koenigsreich der Nabataer, Munich (5 ec.) 1989
L. Nehmé, Pétra, Atlas archéologique et épigraphique, I, De Bab as-Siq au Wadi al-Farasah, Paris 2012 (with bibliography)
See also the following sources.
Glenn Markoe (ed.), 2003 Petra Rediscovered: Lost City of the Nabataeans. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Thomas Weber and Robert Wenning (eds.), 1997 Petra: Antike Felsstadt zwischen arabischer Tradition und greichischer Norm (Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie, Sonderhefte der antiken Welt). Mainz am Rhein: Philipp von Zabern.
2012 The Nabataeans in Focus: Current Archaeological Research at Petra
Supplement to the Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies: Volume 42.
Various issues of the Annual of the Deparetment of Antiquities of Jordan.
Various articles in the volumes of the series Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan.
There are many references and websites, depending upon the special interests you might have. See especially the contributions of the following scholars,among many others: Philip C. Hammond, Jr., Peter Parr, the Horsfields, Leigh-Ann Beidal, David Graf, David Johnson, Zbigniew Fiema, Stefan Schmidt, Avraham Negev, Martha Sharp Joukowsky, and Fawzi Zayadine.
In my recent book Qur'anic Geography I provide a link between the Nabataeans and Islamic history. It is quite controversial however, so probably not the best reference for you. All of the references above are very useful. Drs. Hammond, Joukowsky, and Graf are some of the best known.
ARAM vol. 2 (1990) is very useful. The list of papers is accesible here: http://www.aramsociety.org/aramperiodical.htm
Edawrd Lipiński has published extensively on Arameans, including Nabateans.
ŁNS
I think that you should to see this web, which have a bit about all.
http://nabataea.net/
Regards,
I. U.
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