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Various 'management-by-objectives' frameworks for visitor use management have evolved to balance enhancing visitor experiences with preserving heritage resources at archaeodestinations. These frameworks employ a normative approach, identifying specific indicators to assess visitor experience quality and resource conditions, along with associated thresholds that denote acceptable conditions. Traditionally, the normative approach for assessing visitor experience quality primarily relied on on-site questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. However, with the proliferation of online platforms like TripAdvisor, managers of archaeodestinations must adapt their strategies to leverage User-Generated Content (UGC) for evaluating visitor experiences. Embracing a novel methodology, this research integrates UGC with the normative approach to develop indicators for visitor experience at Petra World Heritage site in Jordan. A content analysis of 618 reviews posted on TripAdvisor was conducted, providing valuable insights into the visitor experience at Petra and assisting in developing potential indicators of quality for the site. Related methodological and managerial implications and recommendations are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jordan has a complex history that has left tangible traces in numerous archaeological sites scattered throughout the country. This unique heritage of inestimable cultural value must be documented, thoroughly researched, and protected in order to prevent its destruction and loss. In this context, knowledge and documentation can be achieved through the application of non-destructive geophysical and geomatic methods. This work represents a synthesis of the results of twenty years of projects carried out at the archaeological sites of Basta, Petra, Um-Hamat (Karak), Umm ar-Rasas, Wu'Ayra, Madaba, and Shawbak. This study enables the exploration of new buried structures in the ground and the documentation of the state of preservation of the structures. It provides an up-to-date overview of Jordan's rich archaeological heritage and supports restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Nabataean Painted Fine Ware (NPFW) has been examined in light of Stephan Schmid's chronological typology since the late 1990s, few stratified contexts with NPFW from outside Petra have been published, and none derived from contexts occupied continuously from the Nabataean through Byzantine periods. Questions remain about the dating of later Dekorphases (3-4) due to a lack of contexts. This paucity is remedied, however, by Area K at Roman Aqaba/Aila, Jordan. Area K was a domestic complex, just inside the later Byzantine city wall, excavated from 1994 through 2002. Using associated numismatic evidence and imported fine wares (primarily Eastern Sigillata A and African Red Slip), this paper argues that NPFW Dekorphase 3b appeared at Aila in the second half of the 1st century CE, and Dekorphase 3c appeared shortly afterwards, around the time of the Roman annexation in the beginning of the 2nd century. [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]

Petra is a famous archaeological Nabataean city, carved out of stone, hidden by towering sandstone mountains in Jordan. Slopes are continuously affected by rock falls and local sliding events, involving volumes from less than 1 m 3 to few hundreds m 3 . To investigate long-term cliff evolution and the impact on monuments, an area of about 50 km 2 , including Petra Archaeological Park and its surroundings, was analysed with the SqueeSAR technique, an advanced Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) algorithm. The analysis of 38 satellite radar images, acquired between 2003 and 2010, allowed the identification of about 62,000 Measurement Points (MPs) for which it was possible to estimate the displacement time series along the satellite Line Of Sight (LOS). A close up to relevant monuments and comparison with ground-based geotechnical monitoring was implemented, revealing a major stability against medium-large potential rock falls, detectable with present method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeobotanical samples recovered during the 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2011 excavation seasons at the Petra Garden and Pool Complex (PGPC) in Jordan examined plants that were preserved during different phases of use of the site. The analysis of these remains attempts to determine what plants would have been grown in the garden in antiquity. Results indicated that the material recovered likely represented plants that had been preserved elsewhere in the area and then deposited in the garden to act as fertilizer. The remains were generally charred and were probably derived from fuel and/or waste deposits as it does not appear that the garden was catastrophically burned. Although it is difficult to ascertain garden variety plants under these preservation conditions, an analysis of the archaeobotanical data from the PGPC addresses the questions of what and how plants functioned in the local and regional economy, and how the role of the garden changed through time, in addition to providing insight into the general environmental or ecological conditions present in southern Jordan from the Late Hellenistic through Late Byzantine/Post-Classical periods. Although ornamental species represent a small fraction of materials collected, the presence of these taxa may indicate their occurrence in the garden. Even if garden plants are not readily identifiable, this study aids in addressing the larger issues of trade, economy and environment of this ancient city, as well as the feasibility of identifying garden plants in antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2000 Season of the Brown University excavations of the so-called Great Temple at Petra, an elusive rock-cut figure (termed the 'Sword Deity') was discovered in the southern perimeter wall. Since then, the current authors have identified other such figures as belonging to this previously unknown type, which has similarities with the Greek herm. Based on a contextual analysis of these figures, it is proposed that the type may depict a protective deity or 'lord' of the Nabataean stonemasons, most likely Dushara. According to this interpretation, the stonemasons sought divine protection during their work by carving the image of the deity high in the rock faces. This paper sheds new light not only on the representation of Nabataean deities, but also on the role of religion in the daily life of the inhabitants of Petra and their relationship with the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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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]