New caves for old: Beduin architecture in Petra

Abstract

The Bedul tribe of beduin live in the ‘rose‐red city’ of Petra in southern Jordan. As well as the traditional tents,’ they inhabit caves cut by the Nabataeans two thousand years ago, adapting them in simple but sophisticated ways. Many of the Bedul caves have overlapping uses which cannot be’ defined by a single function: some occupation is seasonal, and some for particular kinds of activities which would be difficult to trace archaeologically. There is evidence that the Nabataeans also lived in simply adapted caves. Study of Bedul re‐use of the ancient caves may provide clues to the Nabataean way of life.