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Abstract Tourist harassment is one of the major challenging issues influencing the competitiveness of various tourist destinations across the globe. While the topic has received some attention over the past two decades, there is still a dearth of research on the influence of tourist harassment on travelers' perceptions and behaviors. Drawing on qualitative data collected through 27 semi-structured interviews with international travelers visiting Petra, Jordan, the study reveals that the perceived destination image and travelers' behavioral intentions are unlikely to be influenced by harassment experiences. However, there is evidence that harassing tourists to achieve greater sales has an adverse impact on tourists' expenditure level. That is, when harassed, tourists are less likely to be willing to make purchases. The study adds to a still-maturing stream of research on tourist harassment and provides several theoretical as well as practical implications. Highlights • Tourist harassment has become a part of vacation/destination experience. • Tourist harassment has no influence of destination image. • Tourist harassment has no influence on behavioral intentions. • Tourist harassment has an adverse impact on purchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism impacts on destinations have been widely researched; however, few studies have investigated the sociocultural impacts of tourism on local communities in Jordan. The aim of this paper is to explore the negative impacts of tourism development on the local culture of Bedouins of Petra in Jordan. The paper employed qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews with (18) Bedouin employees in the tourism services in the region of Petra. The authors adopted the Social Exchange Theory (SET) to explain the behaviour and attitudes of Bedouins towards tourism development in Petra. The study showed that the Bedouins of Petra had witnessed significant negative impacts in terms of negative sociocultural changes; school dropouts and child labour; and alteration of sociocultural values. To interrogate some of the fundamental consequences of tourism development for the Bedouins, the researchers emphasise that strategic plans are needed to facilitate the sustainable development of tourism for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses and discusses marble found at the Roman site of Udhruh in southern Jordan. Marble is highly valued in Roman culture, and while its use in architecture was widespread across the empire, there were only a relatively few high quality sources. Southern Jordan was not one of these, and so Udhruh's marble was sufficiently highly regarded to be transported into the region from distant sources. Marble from the site was studied and then sampled followed by petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical investigation techniques to identify the possible source of marble. Results indicate that Udhruh's marble is quite hard calcitic marble exhibits exhibit xenoblastic texture, and the chemical composition indicates marble quarries in Greece with a probable contribution from Petra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nabataean Mansion at az-Zantur in Petra is one of the most elaborated architectural monuments has so far been discovered, and still among the few excavated Nabataean domestic architecture in the region. It covers a large area (1200m in area), and was richly decorated with mosaic, opus sectile, fresco and molded stucco. The date of its first two phases has been established on stratigraphic sequence of pottery, coins and cross-cultural evidence to the Nabataean period of the first century AD. The origin of the plan of this mansion, however, may be considered as a matter of debate. The excavator has suggested that this mansion was inspired by Ptolemaic palatial architecture, e.g the Palazzo delle Collonne in Cyrenaica. Here we argue, on space syntax method (SSM) basis, another possible source for the plan of this mansion i.e. the "Seleucid Governor Palaces'. Space Syntax analysis has wide application in and for archaeology including understanding features of social architecture, functional pattern of buildings, social identity, amongst others. The SSM method will be applied to compare, beside the spatial layout, the syntactic values and genotypes of the Nabataean mansion at az-Zantur-Petra with other palatial architecture in the Hellenistic Near East i.e. with the recently discovered Seleucid governor palace in Syria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-Wu'Ayra castle is a Crusader fortified settlement located near Petra in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an. Five stratigraphic sections were excavated in the archaeological area at al-Wu'Aira to better understand the environmental conditions prevailing during the Crusader settlement and the reasons for the rapid abandonment of the site. Geopedological investigations indicate a limited evolution of the site over the last thousand years, with arenosols characterising limited stages of pedogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012 the ancient city of Petra celebrated the 200th anniversary of its Western re-identification The Brown University Petra Archaeological Project (BUPAP) has sought to document the northern hinterland of Petra through a multi-component methodology that includes intensive field survey, feature documentation and limited test excavations. The iconic site of Petra has a long and storied history, and it is a site that presents many challenges to archaeologists and cultural heritage managers. During a series of test excavations meant to ground truth locations earmarked by the overlapping intensive field survey and feature documentation, several patterns of looting were identified. These instances of looting were often paralleled by observed vandalism that defaced archaeological heritage, within and outside the Petra Archaeological Park, with archaeological artifacts being sold to tourists at nearby shops. This study provides crucial documentation of these processes of vandalism and looting recorded over the last three years We propose that only through continued monitoring can local authorities be provided with ample evidence calling for additional cultural heritage protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to demonstrate the use of timber ties in the construction of Stone masonry arches in Jordan from the late first century BC onwards. It investigates the techniques used and relates them to present-day structural design. In Nabataean architecture, tie-beams were used for strengthening of masonry structures and, in particular, to strengthen masonry arches and vaults against their most critical failure mechanism. The tie-beams introduce tension resistance. This fact has two important consequences: the capacity of the arch itself is increased, and the lateral thrust transmitted to the piers is reduced, thereby increasing the strength of the arch–pier system. Collapse of an arch typically occurs when notie-rods or tie-beams are used and the piers are unable to bear the thrust of the arch. While the first effect has been stressed by the existing research, less attention has been paid to the second effect, which nevertheless is very important for practical applications. In this paper, the main methods are critical analysis of archaeological information enriched by structural evaluation of the strength of such systems. From such an approach, reliable hypotheses can be made concerning the design and construction process. The effect of bonding a tie-beam to the intrados of a semi-circular arch on the lateral thrust is evaluated analytically using the non- linear finite element package ABAQUS software (HKS, version 6.5). The results are analysed based on the determination of the thrust line. This study concludes some recommendations for the conservation of historical buildings in seismic regions, based on a thorough understanding of their structure, construction features and materials, which may help to prevent earthquake-induced damage to buildings taking into account traditional and modem materials and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Modeling behavioral intentions remain an important area of research in tourism. This study empirically tests a model linking tourists' emotional experiences, satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The model proposes that satisfaction mediates the relationship between tourists' emotional experiences and behavioral intentions. Data were collected from international tourists visiting Petra, a UNESCO world heritage site. Contrary to theoretical predictions, results do not support the mediating effect of satisfaction on the relationship between emotions (joy, love, positive surprise, and unpleasantness) and behavioral intentions. Findings offer important strategic marketing implications for Petra in relation to branding and managing destination experiences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to find the relationship between the drilling resistance (DR) of a stone and its porosity. 40 sandstone and limestone samples (20 each lithotype) were taken into consideration in this study. The samples were mineralogically and petrographically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized light microscopy. The sandstone samples were identified as quartz arenite that is composed of Quartz, Kaolinite and Calcite, while the limestone samples were identified as micritic limestone that is composed of Calcite. The average DR of the samples was measured using a Drilling Resistance Measurement System (DRMS), and the porosities were determined using a RILEM standard test method. A mathematical relationship between the DR and porosity was derived for both stone types. It was found to be a linear inverse relationship in both cases. The derived relationships were used to calculate the porosities of additional sandstone and limestone samples based on their measured average DR. The values of calculated porosities showed acceptable accuracy when compared with measured values. Therefore, this technique is recommended to estimate the porosity of stones with similar mineralogical compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Satisfaction and perceptions of the residents towards local management were analysed at a World Heritage site such as the region of Petra, Jordan. Contributing to the context of host-guest interaction at World Heritage sites, we investigated the satisfaction towards local management. Using the Social Exchange Theory and partial least squares-structural equation modelling, a model was built and data from 467 surveyed residents were analysed. The model that we developed in this study represents the relationships between several factors related to the region's characteristics, including involvement in tourism development, participation in local organisation, and resident contact with tourists and community attachment. It was found that these factors play a critical role in the residents' perceptions of the economic, environment and socio-cultural impact of tourism development. Our findings suggest that perceptions strongly affect the satisfaction with local management. Furthermore, this study addresses several practical implications and future studies. • This study highlights the importence of local residents' involvement in tourism sector. • This study presents a model that includes associations between variables that were not investigated in previous studies. • The paper shows the importence of investigating the participation in local association on the economic benefits of WHS communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite previous and continued excavations at Petra, many questions regarding the city center are still ambiguous for the archaeologists. The ruins on the side of the valley raised many questions about the nature, the function and the dating of these structures. For these reasons an excavation has been conducted at this site. The excavation uncovered an important public building which contained a public bath, used in the Nabataean, Roman and Byzantine periods, an apse and, in front of it, a platform and a structure with marble floor. The connection among these structures is not completely clear. Further investigation and analyses is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a study of Corinthians capitals with interlocked helices from four main locations: Jordan (Gerasa, Petra); Lebanon (Baalbek); Egypt (Alexandria); Italy (Rome); and Libya (Lepcis Magna). A typological study of Corinthian capitals with interlocked helices show two main types, the first, interlocked normal helices, the second, interlocked flowered helices. Those types were used on in general on temples during the Roman period. The study included is descriptions of the capitals, which are then compared with one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nabataean pottery is distinguished by the thinness of its walls, which were sometimes only 1.5 mm thick. It was a pinkish/red color, often decorated by hand with dark brown flower and leaf designs. The typical (egg-shell) shallow open bowls productions were very difficult to make on the potter's wheel, demonstrating how skilled their craftsmen were. Nabataean painted pottery from Petra Jordan were examined in order to determine the mineralogical characteristics of the raw pigment materials used for their production and to elucidate the ceramic manufacturing technologies employed. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) were the analytical techniques used. The initial examination of the ceramic shreds in optical microscopy showed all samples to be identical in their paint and paste textures. The mineralogical composition of the paste (unpainted outer surface) is typical of a clay poor in calcium and fired at moderate-high temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere. The paste is composed of quartz, plagioclase, potassium feldspar, hematite, dolomite, and calcite. The latter two phases might be attributed to post-depositional contamination, since examination with both optical and scanning electron microscopes show fine carbonate particles deposited in the pores and cracks of the shred. The paint on the inner surface of the vessel, on the other hand is composed of hematite as a major phase with only some quartz and plagioclase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treasury is the icon monument of the world heritage site of ancient Petra city. Unfortunately, this important part of the world's cultural heritage is gradually being diminished due to weathering and erosion problems. This give rise to the need to have a comprehensive study and full documentation of the monument in order to evaluate its status. In this research a comprehensive approach utilizing 2D-3D documentation of the structure using laser scanner and photogrammetry is carried parallel with a laboratory analysis and a correlation study of the salt content and the surface weathering forms. In addition, the research extends to evaluate a set of chemical and physical properties of the case study monument. Studies of stone texture and spatial distribution of soluble salts were carried out at the monument in order to explain the mechanism of the weathering problem. Then a series of field work investigations and laboratory work were undertaken to study the effect of relative humidity, temperature, and wind are the main factors in the salt damage process. The 3D modelling provides accurate geometric and radiometric properties of the damage shape. In order to support the visual quality of 3D surface details and cracks, a hybrid approach combining data from the laser scanner and the digital imagery was developed. Based on the findings, salt damage appears to be one of the main problems at this monument. Although, the total soluble salt content are quite low, but the salts contamination is all over the tested samples in all seasons, with higher concentrations at deep intervals. The thermodynamic calculations carried out by this research have also shown that salt damage could be minimised by controlling the surrounding relative humidity conditions. This measure is undoubtedly the most challenging of all, and its application, if deemed feasible, should be carried out in parallel with other conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1967 the Group of Sculptures was discovered in Petra during clearance works organised by the Department of Antiquities in Jordan in the Temenos of Qasr el Bint around the Temenos Gate. One of these sculptures was a high relief statue of a female sphinx. Due to the paucity of information about this statue, this paper has been written to answer a number of questions: What was its original site or monument? When was it made? Who was the deity or deities it represented? Could there be another interpretation of its existence? The answers to the above provide enlightenment of Nabataean styles of carvings and an insight into their religious thoughts. Rgarding the interpretation of the Female Sphinx. Three ideas have been suggested. First, it can be the main Nabataean goddess Allat, "the mother of the gods". Second, it is an image of Petra as a goddess. Third, it is carved on the Temenos Gate as a guardian of Petra city in general and its holy monuments like temples and tombs in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]