Water system failure caused 2 meters of sediment before Roman arrival. By 106 CE when Romans arrived, over 2 meters (6 ft) of sediment had accumulated at Petra's plaza covering tomb entrances Without proper maintenance, Petra's water system crumbled over time: dams collapsed, conduits and tunnels clogged The 1.5 to 2.5 meters of sediment below the Roman limestone courtyard would have taken 630 to 1,360 years to accumulate at the rate of 1.84-2.37 mm per year
A thought-provoking finding at Petra: by 106 CE when Romans arrived, over 2 meters of sediment had already accumulated at the plaza. Without maintenance, the Nabataean water system crumbled—dams collapsed, conduits clogged. Sediment analysis shows accumulation rates of 1.84-2.37 mm yearly, meaning 630-1,360 years of buildup. This timeline raises questions: the Nabataeans may not have been the original creators of Petra's monuments, challenging long-held assumptions about when this extraordinary site was built.
Key Facts
- By 106 CE when Romans arrived, over 2 meters (6 ft) of sediment had accumulated at Petra's plaza covering tomb entrances
- Without proper maintenance, Petra's water system crumbled over time: dams collapsed, conduits and tunnels clogged
- The 1.5 to 2.5 meters of sediment below the Roman limestone courtyard would have taken 630 to 1,360 years to accumulate at the rate of 1.84-2.37 mm per year
- This sediment timeline suggests the Nabataeans may not have been the original creators of the water system
- The sediment rate discrepancy raises questions about the true age and creators of Petra's monuments
Related site: Petra — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: New Exciting Underground Discovery at the Treasury of Petra by Curious Being