CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF GERMAN JORDANIAN UNIVERSITY NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
RESTORATION of the ANCIENT NABATEAN Flood Control System IN WADI MADRAS at PETRA
INTRODUCTION
The Madra border defi 1007m asl Road, with Thus the a Higher as c
THE TREASURY 1007 M
125
250
500
y
as- Hremiyyeh catchment constitutes around 5 km2, with the northern fined by the Siq path and the treasury (Al-Khasnah) with an elevation of l and the south-eastern upper extent by the Wadi Musa-Taybeh-Rajef h an elevation around 1340 m ASL. average slope in it is 17%, with some parts being significantly Wadi Musacan be seen in the section below. Taybeh-Rajef Road
1340 M
The flood control system was used and maintained until the 6th century A.D., after which neglect, and natural and environmental agents (earthquakes, floods) led to the system collapse. In 2018, this project was initiated to revive and restore the Nabataean flood control system, with funds from the American Ambassadors Fund for Cultural preservation with a sum of (150,000$) for two years.
SURVEY WORK, RECORDING AND DOCUMENTATION. THE PROJECT has multiple
Drone survey
COMPONENTS designed to fully under-
stand and ensure the integrity of the site as well as to assure and monitor the extent of its effectiveness. Thus, the major components of the project are as follows:
- Detailed documentation of the hydrological instillations, including photogram try, drone survey and 3-D scanning of the hydrological elements within the cat ment. - An archaeological survey of the area and the documentation of the various elements. This has included dating of sediments and some geophysical work.
- Building of computer models to model volume and intensity of runoff e and after the intervention.
- Full documentation of the state of conservation for each element was (about 120 of them), creating a data base attached to each element. Thi on direct observation of the structural and material damage and quantit nique to understand various scenarios the terraces might withstand, mo ty, safety and maintain the original significance.
- Hydrological data collection of the catchment area, to include in rain gages as well as the collection of soil data and conducting of
3-D Scanning
mmetch-
expected prior to
s plotted on each terrace and dam is was done both qualitatively based tatively by applying modeling techonitoring the interventions for durabili-
nstalling stream gages, rain-runoff experiments.
CHOSEN TERRACES/ STAGE I 125
250 m
CHECK-DAMS
DOWNSTREAM
00
1 2 3
UPSTREAM
MIDDLE AREA
4
6
11
CHECK DAM 04 CHECK DAM 03 CHECK DAM 02 CHECK DAM 01
DOWNSTREAM
CHECK DAM 11
UPSTREAM
MIDDLE AREA
CHECK DAM 08
CHECK DAM 05
CHECK DAM 04
CHECK DAM 03
CHECK DAM 02
CHECK DAM 01
THE STATE OF CONSERVATION:
Partial to total destruction
Specific local materials (dark sandstones) will be used to mark and identify the new structures and differentiate them from the old ones.
Loss of cohesion
Vegetation growth Lacunae
This will also be done when renovating the old structures, allowing the differentiation between the original structure and the rebuilt parts.
1124.00
1116.00
1108.00
1104.00
1100.00
1096.00
TERRACES SYSTEM
1096.00
1100.00
BENCH TERRACES
CHECK DAMS STEP TERRACES
1104.00
CHECK 1108.00
1116.00
AQUEDUCT
CONTOUR TERRACES
1148.00
1140.00
1132.00
1140.00
1132.00
DAMS
CONTOUR TERRACES
STEP TERRACES BENCH TERRACES
CHECK DAMS
AQUEDUCT
Dam#2 Before
Dam#4 Before
Dam#6 Before
Dam#2 A�er
Dam#4 A�er
Dam#6 A�er