“Cave Cities Past” explores the hidden world of subsurface architecture, challenging conventional understandings of ancient urban planning by focusing on Petra and its surrounding underground settlements. The book argues that these structures were not mere refuges but served as dynamic spaces for complex social, economic, and ritual activities.
The Nabataeans, Petra's creators, ingeniously integrated the natural sandstone formations with their architectural designs, revealing a multi-layered urban environment that included sophisticated hydrological systems carved directly into the rock.
The book begins by establishing the historical and geological context of Petra, then progresses by examining specific examples of subsurface architecture, such as water management systems and storage chambers. It also investigates the potential use of subterranean spaces for religious purposes.
This approach, supported by archaeological surveys and detailed architectural analysis, offers a comprehensive account of Petra's subterranean world and highlights the ingenuity and adaptability of past societies.
