THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PETRA AND THE NABATAEAN CULTURE
« THE NABATAEANS - ECONOMY AND CULTURE »
Amman, University of Jordan, JUNE 18–21, 2018
Following the preceding conferences on Petra and the Nabataean kingdom (ICNC 1 Petra 2012 and ICNC 2 Provo UT 2015), the conference « THE NABATAEANS - ECONOMY AND CULTURE » wishes to make its own contribution on new advances of research in the field of Nabataean culture.
In 2018, the conference will address, amongst other topics, the economic, commercial and cultural ties which the Nabataean kingdom had with its peripheral areas and with regions beyond its sphere of influence as far as India. Whilst taking account of new research being carried out in the Petra region and elsewhere in Jordan (Humeima, Aila, etc.), the contributors’ attention will need to be focused on recently excavated sites such as Taymâ, Hegra, Dûmat, Aynûna, Madâin Salih, the north coast of the Red Sea, etc. We will take a special interest in communication modes and routes, in goods moving from one place to another and in the economic, cultural and religious ties arising from exchange flows of people and goods.
In arts and architecture, the study of large and tall buildings in Petra and other sites has shown the deployment of arts and crafts primarily reserved for the local elites, but how much do we know about folk art in Petra and outside of the capital? In the religious sphere, several significant studies highlighted the value of the temples and their associated cults. What about popular or private expression of piety and what do we know about the local cults performed by the residents of these places and by the nomads moving around in these regions? Contributions related to these topics are expected because they will provide useful insights for the study of the Nabataeans in general and particularly the knowledge of the local cultures.
The site of Petra, however, involves much more than the archaeological research which has been carried out there. Each campaign of excavation reveals an extraordinary heritage which must be preserved and made accessible to the public. Certain contributions to the present conference could deal with specific topics related to the protection and enhancement of this exceptional heritage: museology, planning of site visit programs, archaeology and landscape, securing and preservation of the tombs, sound and regulated development of tourism, ecological dimensions of new development projects (new secure access, higher area visiting zones, etc.). These issues affect Petra as well as the other major Nabataean sites.
Modern technology (scanning, 3D reconstruction, etc.) allows a fresh perspective on the Nabataean sites. This conference is intended to be attentive to a new generation of researchers which contributes to enhancing the value of the sites, the water supply networks and the monumental structures by the use of new technologies.
Leading experts are invited to participate in this conference, but the organizers also wish to welcome young scholars who would like to present the early stages of their research in the form of papers or posters.
