Nabataean Quarry


Tucked along Wadi Siyagh, at a bend in the rocky wadi bottom, there is a hint of former excavation along the wadi walls. Most of the edifices in the Ancient City are carved out of the cliff face; this quarry would have supplied the rock for the relatively few structures, such as Qasr Al Bint, that were constructed as freestanding buildings.


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1. Convent Group

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This dense cluster of tombs makes a striking feature during a hike around Al Habis or along Wadi Siyagh. In spring they are often decorated with flowering…

2. Painted House

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Somewhat unique among buildings in Petra as it sports a coloured interior, the walls of this Nabataean dwelling are painted in ochres, burnt umbers and…

3. Al Habis

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Beyond Qasr Al Bint is the small hill of Al Habis (the Prison). From the Nabataean Tent Restaurant, steps lead up the hill past a disused museum around…

4. Unfinished Tomb

0.15 MILES

Offers a rare glimpse of the way the Nabataeans constructed their rock tombs, starting at the top on a platform of scaffolding and working their way down.

5. Crusader Fort

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At the summit of Al Habis are the limited remains of this fort built in AD 1116 by Baldwin I. The ruins are not impressive, but the views across the city…

6. Columbarium

0.2 MILES

The multiple niches of the the enigmatic Columbarium remain a mystery; some suppose they housed votive images or urns, others say this was a dovecote for…

7. Qasr Al Bint

0.2 MILES

One of the few free-standing structures in Petra, Qasr Al Bint was built in around 30 BCE by the Nabataeans. It was later adapted to the cult of Roman…

8. Altar

0.2 MILES

The sacrificial altar in front of the Qasr Al Bint was once overlaid with marble, indicating that it was probably the main place of worship in the…