DOI Artikel:
Artymowski, Jan Daniel: The pattern of nabataean settlement
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26418#0143
times being part of the desert2. The minor changes of climate which did take place
in the Middle East in ancient times seem to have had no influence on the development
or the decline of Nabataean settlement in the areas discussed3. The trade routes
seem to be another factor of great importance for the development of settlement
in the territories occupied by the Nabataeans. Roads used today have been used
as a basis for the reconstruction of the road system in Nabataean times. It seems that
their course has changed little since the antiquity4. This applies especially to main
roads, as well as to those the course of which was determined by certain features of
the landscape. Of course, not all modern rods have been used in antiquity, therefore
the course of a road was always compared with the pattern of Nabataean settlement.
Other factors, such as traces of ancient agriculture, water sources, topography
etc. are of less value, these data being available for a very small percentage of the sites.
The results of any analysis of the influence of these factors on Nabataean settlements
must therefore be approached with caution. The influence of the factors above
mentioned on Nabataean settlements have been considered for all Nabataean sites
of an area (also for earlier periods for comparison), as well as in relation to their
different categories. These categories are:
1. Open sites — bigger or smaller unfortified sites-this most vague category has
been distinguished by authors of publications whom I had to follow for the lack of
more precise information.
2. Forts — small fortified sites. This category includes forts sensu stricto, often
adopted by the Nabataeans from the Early Iron Age, as well as later built cara-
vanserais. It seems that in this case the two functions are not exclusive, the fortified
caravanserais being often military or police posts.
3. Centres — large sites, often fortified, clearly distinguishable because of their
size, monumental buildings etc. The term „centre” is used ta avoid the disputable
term „city”. In describing the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the influence
of various factors on Nabataean settlement percentages of sites of sites will be given,
rather than their numbers. The former seem to express well the general trend, and
are use full for comparing the influence of different factors upon different periods.
MOAB
The plateau lands of Moab and Edom form a part of a ridge running to the east
of the Great Rift, which includes the valleys of Jordan, Wadi Araba and that of the
Dead Sea. The line running east from the north end of the Dead Sea is considered
2 For geographical conditions cf. Atlas of Israel, Jerusalem 1970; M. Elawson, The Agri-
cultural Potential of the Middle East, New York 1971; M. Evenari, Shanan L., Tadmor N.
The Negev. The challenge of a Desert, Cambridge 1971.
3 Cf.: W. Butzer, Late Glacial and Post-Glacial Variations in the Middle East, „Erdkunde”
II, 1957, pp. 21 - 35; M. Liverani, „Oriens Antiquus” 7, 1968, pp. 77 - 89.
4 N. Glueck, BASOR 59, 1934, p. 13.
132
in the Middle East in ancient times seem to have had no influence on the development
or the decline of Nabataean settlement in the areas discussed3. The trade routes
seem to be another factor of great importance for the development of settlement
in the territories occupied by the Nabataeans. Roads used today have been used
as a basis for the reconstruction of the road system in Nabataean times. It seems that
their course has changed little since the antiquity4. This applies especially to main
roads, as well as to those the course of which was determined by certain features of
the landscape. Of course, not all modern rods have been used in antiquity, therefore
the course of a road was always compared with the pattern of Nabataean settlement.
Other factors, such as traces of ancient agriculture, water sources, topography
etc. are of less value, these data being available for a very small percentage of the sites.
The results of any analysis of the influence of these factors on Nabataean settlements
must therefore be approached with caution. The influence of the factors above
mentioned on Nabataean settlements have been considered for all Nabataean sites
of an area (also for earlier periods for comparison), as well as in relation to their
different categories. These categories are:
1. Open sites — bigger or smaller unfortified sites-this most vague category has
been distinguished by authors of publications whom I had to follow for the lack of
more precise information.
2. Forts — small fortified sites. This category includes forts sensu stricto, often
adopted by the Nabataeans from the Early Iron Age, as well as later built cara-
vanserais. It seems that in this case the two functions are not exclusive, the fortified
caravanserais being often military or police posts.
3. Centres — large sites, often fortified, clearly distinguishable because of their
size, monumental buildings etc. The term „centre” is used ta avoid the disputable
term „city”. In describing the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the influence
of various factors on Nabataean settlement percentages of sites of sites will be given,
rather than their numbers. The former seem to express well the general trend, and
are use full for comparing the influence of different factors upon different periods.
MOAB
The plateau lands of Moab and Edom form a part of a ridge running to the east
of the Great Rift, which includes the valleys of Jordan, Wadi Araba and that of the
Dead Sea. The line running east from the north end of the Dead Sea is considered
2 For geographical conditions cf. Atlas of Israel, Jerusalem 1970; M. Elawson, The Agri-
cultural Potential of the Middle East, New York 1971; M. Evenari, Shanan L., Tadmor N.
The Negev. The challenge of a Desert, Cambridge 1971.
3 Cf.: W. Butzer, Late Glacial and Post-Glacial Variations in the Middle East, „Erdkunde”
II, 1957, pp. 21 - 35; M. Liverani, „Oriens Antiquus” 7, 1968, pp. 77 - 89.
4 N. Glueck, BASOR 59, 1934, p. 13.
132