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Petra - NEPP Site

the NEPP Area Fig. 2

The NEPP area located between the Wadi Matahah (left), the Wadi Musa (right) and the face of the al-Khubthah massif.View from the West. Photo by S.G. Schmid

Fiema and Schmid (2014)


Names
Transliterated Name Source Name
NEPP site
Introduction
Introduction

The NEPP area occupies the high ground between Wadi Musa and Wadi Matahah, bounded to the east by the face of the al-Khubthah massif. This elevated zone overlooks much of the Petra Valley and is topographically distinct from the city centre, forming a clearly separated urban quarter rather than a zone of ordinary domestic occupation.

On the basis of its peripheral position, monumental architecture, and direct integration with Petra’s hydraulic infrastructure, the NEPP area has been proposed as the location of the Nabataean basileia, the royal quarter in which the kings of Petra resided. Such an interpretation accords with Hellenistic models of royal space, in which royal residences were commonly set apart from the civic core, associated with administrative, cultic, and infrastructural installations, and designed to dominate the surrounding cityscape.

Archaeological evidence indicates that the principal occupation and architectural elaboration of the NEPP complex occurred during the 1st century CE. The area appears to have suffered major destruction in the 4th century CE, most plausibly during the earthquake of 19 May 363 CE, which caused widespread damage to monumental buildings across Petra. The apparent lack of sustained Byzantine reoccupation at the site, in contrast to other sectors of the city, suggests that seismic destruction played a significant role in the abandonment of this elite architectural zone.

Petra - Introduction Webpage

Maps, Aerial Views, Plans, and Photos
Maps, Aerial Views, Plans, and Photos

Maps and Aerial Views

  • Fig. 2 - Location Map from Jones (2021)
    Figure 2

    Map of Petra with the locations of major excavations marked

    Jones (2021)

    Basemap: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, USDA FSA, USGS, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, and the GIS User Community
  • NEPP area in Google Earth
    NEPP area in Google Earth

    click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth

Plans

Normal Size

  • Fig. 3 - Plan of the NEPP area
    Figure 3

    The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

    Fiema and Schmid (2014)
    from Fiema and Schmid (2014)

Magnified

  • Fig. 3 - Plan of the
    Figure 3

    The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

    Fiema and Schmid (2014)
    NEPP area from Fiema and Schmid (2014)

Photos

Normal Size

  • Fig. 6 - Structure 1 interior
    Figure 6

    Structure 1. The interior featuring a collapsed granite column. In the background: the Petra Church (left) and the Blue Chapel (centre). Photo by Z.T. Fiema

    click on image to open in a new tab

    Fiema and Schmid (2014)
    featuring a collapsed granite column from Fiema and Schmid (2014)

Magnified

  • Fig. 6 - Structure 1 interior
    Figure 6

    Structure 1. The interior featuring a collapsed granite column. In the background: the Petra Church (left) and the Blue Chapel (centre). Photo by Z.T. Fiema

    click on image to open in a new tab

    Fiema and Schmid (2014)
    featuring a collapsed granite column from Fiema and Schmid (2014)

Archaeoseismic Chronology
Phasing

Nabatean Fineware Pottery Dating at Ez-Zantur

  • from Schmid (1995)
  • Ez-Zantur Excavations utilized Nabatean fineware chronology of Schmid (2000) - which I don't currently have access to
  • This chronology appears to have been utilized for the NEPP site
Chronology of Nabatean finewares Typology and chronology of the Nabataean fine ware

Left

Chronology of Nabatean finewares

Right

Typology and chronology of the Nabataean fine ware

Both from Schmid (1995)

1st Destruction of Structure 1 Earthquake - 4th century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Fig. 2 - Location Map from Jones (2021)
    Figure 2

    Map of Petra with the locations of major excavations marked

    Jones (2021)

    Basemap: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, USDA FSA, USGS, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, and the GIS User Community
  • Fig. 3 - Plan of the NEPP area
    Figure 3

    The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

    Fiema and Schmid (2014)
    from Fiema and Schmid (2014)

Discussion
Discussion

2nd Destruction of Structure 1 Earthquake - 5th-6th Century CE

Maps and Plans

Maps and Plans

  • Fig. 2 - Location Map from Jones (2021)
    Figure 2

    Map of Petra with the locations of major excavations marked

    Jones (2021)

    Basemap: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, USDA FSA, USGS, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, and the GIS User Community
  • Fig. 3 - Plan of the NEPP area
    Figure 3

    The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

    Fiema and Schmid (2014)
    from Fiema and Schmid (2014)

Discussion
Discussion

References
Notes by JW

Fiema and Schmid (2014:429-430) suggest that Structure 1 in the NEPP area was destroyed by the 363 earthquake, but [was] later restored although in much altered form and appearance with final destruction and abandonment taking place afterwards, perhaps sometime in the early 5th century. They suggest that final destruction and abandonment may have been due to the Monaxius and Plinta Quake of 419 CE. Jones (2021) argues that al-Zantur I Spatromisch II ceramics, rather than dating from 363 CE - 419 CE, should date to at least a century later. If true, this would negate archaeoseismic evidence for an earthquake reported in 419 CE (i.e. the Monaxius and Plinta Quake) at ez-Zantur and other sites in Petra such as in a structure outside the Urn Tomb, and in Structure I of the NEPP Project. Jones (2021) suggests instead that the causitive earthquake was more likely the late 6th century CE Inscription At Areopolis Quake. Jones (2021) provides a discussion below:

Within Petra, the 418/419 earthquake has been suggested as the cause for the destruction of three structures:
  • al-Zantur I, specifically the end of Bauphase Spatromisch II
  • one of the structures outside of the Urn Tomb, House II
  • North-Eastern Petra Project (NEPP) Structure I
NEPP Structure I has not been excavated, and the claim that it was destroyed in the 418/419 earthquake is based on surface finds and reference to al-Zantur I (Fiema and Schmid 2014: 431). Without excavation, the actual date and nature of the building's destruction remain uncertain. The claim for damage at Petra related to the 418/419 earthquake rests primarily, therefore, on the evidence from al-Zantur I.

Archaeoseismic Effects
1st Destruction of Structure 1 Earthquake - 4th century CE

Effect                                          Location Image(s) Description
  • Destruction (collapsed walls)
 Structure 1
Figure 3

The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

click on image to open in a new tab

Fiema and Schmid (2014)
  • " Probably, Structure 1 features at least two major occupational phases and the earlier one could have been ended by a significant disaster." - Fiema and Schmid (2014:426)

  • "Presumably, that structure [Structure 1] in its early phase featured such supports which were at least partially retained in the post-363 reconstruction of the building." - Fiema and Schmid (2014:431)

2nd Destruction of Structure 1 Earthquake - 5th-6th Century CE

Effect                                          Location Image(s) Description
  • Destruction (collapsed walls)
 Structure 1
Figure 3

The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

click on image to open in a new tab

Fiema and Schmid (2014)
Figure 6

Structure 1. The interior featuring a collapsed granite column. In the background: the Petra Church (left) and the Blue Chapel (centre). Photo by Z.T. Fiema

click on image to open in a new tab

Fiema and Schmid (2014)
  • "The final destruction and abandonment of Structure 1 would presumably have happened soon afterwards, perhaps sometime in the early 5th century. The earthquake of 419 was postulated to ruin ez Zantur I and effectively end the ancient occupation on that southern hill of the Petra Valley. Perhaps that otherwise poorly attested earthquake was also responsible for the final destruction of Structure 1. " - Fiema and Schmid (2014:429-430)

Archaeoseismic Intensity Estimates
1st Destruction of Structure 1 Earthquake - 4th century CE

Effect                                          Location Image(s) Description Intensity
  • Destruction (collapsed walls)
 Structure 1
Figure 3

The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

click on image to open in a new tab

Fiema and Schmid (2014)
  • " Probably, Structure 1 features at least two major occupational phases and the earlier one could have been ended by a significant disaster." - Fiema and Schmid (2014:426)

  • "Presumably, that structure [Structure 1] in its early phase featured such supports which were at least partially retained in the post-363 reconstruction of the building." - Fiema and Schmid (2014:431)
  • VIII+
The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013:221-224).

2nd Destruction of Structure 1 Earthquake - 5th-6th Century CE

Effect                                          Location Image(s) Description Intensity
  • Destruction (collapsed walls)
 Structure 1
Figure 3

The plan of the NEPP area featuring Structures 1, 2, and 3. Plan by Jana Falkenberg and Maija Holappa

click on image to open in a new tab

Fiema and Schmid (2014)
Figure 6

Structure 1. The interior featuring a collapsed granite column. In the background: the Petra Church (left) and the Blue Chapel (centre). Photo by Z.T. Fiema

click on image to open in a new tab

Fiema and Schmid (2014)
  • "The final destruction and abandonment of Structure 1 would presumably have happened soon afterwards, perhaps sometime in the early 5th century. The earthquake of 419 was postulated to ruin ez Zantur I and effectively end the ancient occupation on that southern hill of the Petra Valley. Perhaps that otherwise poorly attested earthquake was also responsible for the final destruction of Structure 1. " - Fiema and Schmid (2014:429-430)
  • VIII+
The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013:221-224).

Notes and Further Reading
References

Articles and Books

Fiema, Zbigniew T., Schmid, Stephan G., and Kolb, Bernhard (2019) The Northeastern Petra Project: An Assessment

Fiema and Schmid 2014 Nabataean basileia and the earthquake of A.D. 363 in Petra: Some Considerations.

Jones, I. W. N. (2021). "The southern Levantine earthquake of 418/419 AD and the archaeology of Byzantine Petra." Levant: 1-15.

Websites

Northeast Petra Project at The Association for the Understanding of Ancient Cultures (AUAC)

Facebook page for the Northeast Petra Project