The Great Circle of the ad-Dayr Monument and Plateau Project

In Petra Archaeological Park, the monastery ranks as the second most visited site. Located northwest of the city center, its flat plaza, carved from rock, likely accommodated large crowds during religious ceremonies. In ancient times, the Nabataeans surrounded this monument with sophisticated water catchment systems, showcasing their mastery of local topography to manage seasonal floodwaters sustainably.

Recent significant discoveries by the ad-Dayr Monument and Plateau Project (AMPP), led by Brigham Young University and the Department of Antiquities in collaboration with the Petra Archaeological Park, have shed new light. These findings include the northwest Temenos Slot Access Region to the ad-Dayr Monument Courtyard, the Eastern Water Cisterns, and the Great Circle—a monumental 60-meter pool. This structure, featuring a massive dam, rock-cut walls, an entrance ramp, and utilizing a pre-existing Nabataean quarry, protected the monument from erosional floods originating from the western slopes of the plateau.

The Great Circle of ad-Dayr served dual roles: as a quarry for construction materials and as a catch basin safeguarding the nearby ad-Dayr Monument complex. This discovery underscores the Nabataeans' advanced engineering in water management within Petra's challenging desert environment. The AMPP's efforts in restoring and documenting these structures, alongside their exploration of other key Nabataean sites, significantly enrich our understanding of Petra's archaeological heritage.