Petra. Umm el-Biyarah. (Earliest Nabatean stronghold). Unfinished tomb. Note socket holes for scaffold timbers [approximately 1920 to 1933]
American Colony (Jerusalem). Photo Department
1 negative : nitrate ; 4 x 5 in.
#Petra #el-Biyarah #Nabatean #Jerusalem #PhotoDepartment #Jordan #Petra(Extinctcity) #photography



![The image is a black and white photograph depicting an expansive, rugged landscape with deep canyons or ravines stretching into the distance. In the foreground, there are large rock formations that create a sort of plateau from which a lone individual stands looking out over the scene. The person appears to be standing on the edge of one such formation, holding onto another structure for support.
The terrain is barren and devoid of vegetation in some areas while having sparse desert shrubs in others. A winding path or trail can be seen cutting through the landscape at various depths within the ravines below. The sky above is clear with no visible clouds, suggesting a dry climate typical of desert regions.
Above this scene runs text that reads "EPH" and underneath it are more handwritten characters which could potentially signify locations such as Petra, Umm el-Biyarah (Earliest Nabatean stronghold), or other references to historical sites. This indicates the photograph may have been taken in an archaeological context related to ancient civilizations.
The image is labeled with a reference number "691e" and has annotations suggesting it's part of a larger collection by American Colony Photo Department, indicating its likely archival nature as well as pointing towards Jerusalem as being associated with this particular archive. The source or originator noted at the bottom [...]](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/115/828/436/939/798/478/small/998af8a8ef220efd.jpeg)


![The image depicts a black and white photograph of an ancient, rocky structure with distinct stratification on its surface. There is a significant opening in the rock formation that appears to be a doorway or passageway into another part of the mountainous area. Surrounding this feature are various rocks and boulders scattered across what seems like a rough terrain covered partially by vegetation.
The photograph has visible edges with some black borders on all sides, indicating it might have been cut from an album page. There is also white text at the top right corner which reads "User" followed by unclear characters or symbols due to its small size and angle in relation to the image's frame. The overall composition suggests that this photograph was taken during a time when such explorations were common, likely as part of archaeological endeavors.
The bottom left side of the photo contains metadata with additional context about the origin of the picture - it mentions "American Colony (Jerusalem). Photo Department" and provides specific information related to Petra. This reference indicates that the image is connected to historic or archaeological studies on Petra's ancient sites, particularly in its Siq area which was a significant passageway used by Nabateans.
The metadata also includes details about the photographer: "Eric & Edith Matson Photographs" and references an [...]](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/115/823/069/517/782/454/small/c03cbe89ac8c041a.jpeg)

![This black and white photograph depicts an ancient rock-cut structure nestled into a rocky cliffside. The entrance features two arched doorways, with the larger one on the right side having a more elaborate design that includes concentric circles within its arch. Surrounding these entrances are smaller recessed areas carved into the stone surface of the hillside. Sparse vegetation and dry shrubbery can be seen at the base of the cliff where the structure is located.
The photograph appears to be taken from an angle, with some distortion visible due to perspective; however, this adds a sense of depth and dimensionality to the scene. The sky above the cliffs has been captured in varying degrees of brightness and contrast, indicating that it may have been photographed on overcast or semi-cloudy day.
In terms of context and background information provided by additional details from the image's source:
- This photograph is part of a collection associated with Wadi ed-D r., Petra, which implies historical significance likely related to ancient civilizations such as Nabatean culture.
- The specific site mentioned in relation to this photo refers to arched-topped tombs on the west side at the lower end of a valley within that region. This suggests these structures were used for burial purposes and could be part of larger necropoleis or communal grave sites typical of ancient civ [...]](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/115/796/414/386/606/117/small/addc29064275d2cb.jpeg)
![The image is a black and white photograph depicting the interior of what appears to be an ancient Nabatean tomb located in Wadi Musa, Petra region. The primary focus is on three large rectangular depressions or floor graves which are carved into the ground within a larger room-like structure made from stone.
Each grave has a flat headrest at its end with vertical indentations that suggest they may have been used for funerary purposes during historical times. These heads feature what seems to be an emblem, possibly related to religious symbolism known as "Dushara," which is associated with Nabatean culture and history. The construction technique indicates the use of mud-brick or similar material.
The tomb's walls show signs of wear such as cracks and faded areas where plaster may have been applied at some point in its past usage, suggesting significant age. Some elements within the room are not clearly visible due to the lighting conditions which create a high contrast effect between light and shadow across the entire scene. The photo appears aged with slight discoloration indicative of an old photograph.
The composition is balanced but somewhat sparse, directing attention primarily toward the graves themselves while also capturing part of the surrounding wall structure for context. This image seems historically significant as it offers insight into ancient burial pract [...]](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/115/782/490/397/411/693/small/d131514b21067800.jpeg)




