Books

Nabataean Water Control and Water Harvesting Systems

This book consists of five chapters. The first chapter deals with the geographic and the climatic conditions of the Nabataean kingdom with special reference to the Petra region, its natural water sources, and the canalization systems that connect Petra with these water sources. Furthermore, this chapter illustrates in detail, the Nabataean water harvesting systems in this region. The second chapter touches on the Nabataean hydraulic systems in southern Jordan, mainly Tafila, Wadi Araba and Wadi Rum. The third chapter illustrates the technical aspects of the Nabataean hydraulic and agricultural systems, including: dams, canals, aqueducts, construction materials, drainage, water reservoirs, water harvesting and distribution systems, as well as agricultural installations and techniques. The fourth chapter compares the Nabataean hydraulic and water control systems in Petra with other Nabataean sites in the Negeb, Umm el-Jimal, Hegra, Khirbet es-Samra and Qumran on one hand, and with other hydraulic systems in Arabia, Yemen and North Africa, on the other. In chapter five, the author demonstrates the ethno-archaeological implication of the water distribution system in the modern Petra region in comparison with that of the Nabataeans. Finally, the author endeavors to estimate the demography of the Nabataeans in the Petra area based on the volume and storage capacity of the Nabataean water harvesting systems in this region.