The International North-Eastern Petra Project

Preliminary Report on the 2013 Season

by Stephan G. Schmid, Zbigniew T. Fiema and Bernhard Kolb

III. 2013 survey season – structure 6

This large, rectangular structure is located in the north-eastern part of the NEPP survey area, on the slopes overlooking the Wadi Mattaha (figs. 10. 11). The structure consists of series of parallel rooms in three consecutive rows, which much projects beyond the edge of the plateau into the wadi.

Fig. 10: Overall plan of Structure 6 (plan: J. Falkenberg and M. Holappa)
Fig. 10: Overall plan of Structure 6 (plan: J. Falkenberg and M. Holappa)

The main dividing walls represent the massive substructure construction of the actual building of which nothing remains. Notable is almost total absence of the architectural decoration elements. Only three architectural blocks were found on the surface. It is possible that despite its spectacular location overlooking the entire area of northern Petra across the Wadi Mattaha, the building had, in fact, a more utilitarian, rather than representative, function.

Fig. 11: Structure 6 from SSW (photo: S. G. Schmid)
Fig. 11: Structure 6 from SSW (photo: S. G. Schmid)