The Nabatean Flood Control System of Wadi Hremiyyeh, Petra

Abstract

A project to restore the function of an ancient Nabatean flood control system that had previously protected the Plaza of the Treasury (Al-Khazna), Petra, is described herein. The project involves a large, multidisciplinary team, numerous stakeholders, and a difficult setting. It involves training, outreach, documentation, archaeological investigation, hydrological modeling, architectural conservation and rehabilitation. Previous studies had indicated that such flood control systems operate by controlling water flow from the headwaters in order to prevent sudden surges of water. Since Petra often suffers from the effects of flash floods, the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA) asked the researchers to explore the possibility of controlling modern-day floods using these systems. This culminated in the partial rebuilding of the flood control system and important lessons on their limitations and how they work.