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PETRA AND THE NABATAEANS
A CITY CARVED IN STONE The Nabataeans transformed the forbidding desert into a bustling metropolis. They carved monumental buildings directly into the sandstone hills and created thousands of stone structures, such as temples, burial chambers, residences and theatres. In one of the harshest climates on earth, the Nabataeans were able to harness the rainfall and the desert springs through an intricate system of cisterns, pools and waterways. This engineering marvel conserved and transported more than enough fresh water for Petra’s population, which is thought to have peaked at 20,000 around A.D. 50. The Nabataeans also developed an elaborate network of dams, terraces and irrigation channels that allowed them to grow crops and raise livestock on the surrounding plateau. |
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