Technology > Nabataean Engineering

Nabataean Engineering

Background

The Nabateans were master engineers of water and this was reflected in the sophistication and breadth of technologies employed and the precision with which they were used. One unique element about the hydraulic technologies employed at Petra is that they are carved into the rock of the region which prevents open-air evaporation as well as pollution. The Nabateans also constructed their hydraulic structures to be invisible to most of the population.

This system would channel rain water as well as water from the mountains. They crafted water channels that helped guide water into massive reservoirs and cisterns that would later be used for year round water storage. Based on the climate of the region open air water storage structures would be susceptible to about 3-4 meters of water loss by evaporation and would also require significant labor resources to keep it clean of insects, debris, animals and algae growth. As a result of the implications of these types of structures in this environment open air oasis style reservoirs were limited to the outer limits of the city and were used for livestock of the caravan trade and in case of emergencies. (Bedal 2001).

One of the main reasons for the secrecy of the water storage chambers was to prevent enemies from poisoning the well so to speak. However, due to the nature of their construction archaeologists are constantly finding new underground and other hydraulic structures. In addition the pipeline networks connected to these reservoirs and structures promoted stable flows that also used sequential particle settling basins to purify water sources and promoted open channel flow. This helped alleviate some of the damage and leakage that pressurized water had on the structures and helped match the spring supply rate to the matched carry capacity of the pipeline. (Ortloff 2005)

Overall this demonstrates a remarkable level of cognitive skills in hydraulic engineering that did not appear to be passed on into the present populations that inhabit the region as the city as the structures have fallen into disrepair and covered with layers of debris. However, the development of these technologies in this city was the primary reason that it was able to sustain life for well over half a millenia before it faded into obscurity and was “rediscovered” by Swiss explorers in the 1600's.

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