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The Monastery high in the rocks at Petra
Jerash Oval
Christian Mosaic at Petra
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Jordan occupies a pivotal position at the crossroads between Asia and the Mediterranean and Egypt and Africa, embracing a mighty continent in each arm. It was a market-place of goods and ideas, an intermediary between civilisations and faiths, shaping the East and the world in which we live.
Jordan’s Late Bronze Age and Iron Age history is documented in the Testaments - sweeping movements of people and customs, of prophets and kings, and of Christ himself.
Its position geologically is as significant as its culture, and the country is often described as ‘geological heaven’. The searing chasm of the Great African Rift cleaves the country in two, leaving a high rugged plateau to the east continuing until it exhausts itself in the rocky desert. To the west is the enormous trough of Wadi Araba, its vast valley floor filled by the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. The rich colours of the rock enhance these amazing formations and wadi gorges.
We have included all the great sites you would expect to see, spending two whole days in Petra, and a more adventurous exploration (4x4s and on foot) of the spectacular Wadi Feinan gorge. This is a forgotten archaeological landscape rich in prehistoric activity which is the subject of ongoing survey and excavation by a UK team. The stay in the candle-lit eco-lodge here is mentioned by many as a highlight.
Itinerary
| Day 1 Group flight London to Amman or meet us either at the airport or at our hotel. | | Day 2 Drive north to the decapolis city of Jerash, lying in the pine valleys of the Gilead, with a stream running through the centre which keeps it green even in summer. The ruins are incredibly well-preserved, and the oval plaza is one of the most beautifully-shaped monuments anywhere in the world. In the late afternoon there is an optional excursion to the Dead Sea - swimming here is a strange and unique experience... | | Day 3 South along the King’s Highway, past Mount Nebo - the route taken by Moses as he looked out over the Holy Land, and on to Madaba to see the remarkable 6th century mosaic map, the earliest surviving of the Holy Land, with the walled city of Jerusalem at the centre, and depicting some wonderful details of life in the area of the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley (although the later iconoclasts have removed faces). Continue via the mighty Crusader castle of Kerak to Wadi Feinan, where we stay amongst the mountains of this extraordinary, wild valley in an eco-lodge within the nature reserve. This is surrounded by a fascinating archaeological landscape - 4x4s take us to the lodge, leaving your main luggage with the coach and taking an overnight bag with what you need until the next day. | | Day 4 All day in Wadi Feinan. Feinan was a major source of copper from the Chalcolithic to the Late Roman period, and we explore ancient copper mines in the ravines. The huge slag heaps left from the Bronze Age were resmelted during the Roman period by prisoners on punishment details. Feinan’s water systems, irrigation ditches and channels date as far back as the Neolithic. Extensive remains are to be seen throughout the valley, from prehistoric houses to the ruinous Roman citadel. Rendezvous with the coach and luggage in the afternoon, and on to our hotel near Petra.
| | Day 5 All day in Nabatean Petra, one of the great archaeological wonders. The approach to the site is famous - through a narrow siq, or water-channel - a secretive, winding passage which ends with the spectacular revelation of the tomb known as the Treasury. The site itself is huge, with more elaborate tombs cut into the red, streaky rocks on all sides of the city. There are two ‘high places’ which involve a climb (on a path with rock-cut steps) to sites which were sacred to the Nabateans, with the most spectacular views out over the cliffs and valleys. Parts of the Classical city have an early Christian overlay, with churches with fine mosaics - still a place of pilgrimage. | | Day 6 Another day in Petra - best to save the second climb for today, and explore more of the outlying tombs.
| | Day 7 Free day or optional excursion first to Neolithic site at Beidha, a complex, walled village and unique temple from the 7th millennium BC. Then continue south to take 4x4s through spectacular desert scenery at Wadi Rum, which marks the end of the exposed high plain before Arabia’s sandy empty quarter, eerie in its windy vastness. The area is famous for its association with
T E Lawrence, who described it thus:
“It was tamarisk covered: the beginning of the Wadi Rum, they said. We looked on to the left to a long wall of rock, sheering in like a thousand-foot wave towards the middle of the valley, whose other arc to the right was an opposing line of steep red hills”.
We cross this extraordinary terrain to examine some of the rock art found here.
“It was tamarisk covered: the beginning of the Wadi Rum, they said. We looked on to the left to a long wall of rock, sheering in like a thousand-foot wave towards the middle of the valley, whose other arc to the right was an opposing line of steep red hills”.
We cross this extraordinary terrain to examine remarkable early rock art found here. | | Day 8 Drive back to Amman to take group flights home, or travel independently, or extend your holiday. |
for more information about Bare Bones Archaeology Tours
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Two full days in Petra; full day in Wadi Feinan with prehistoric houses, Bronze Age copper mines and a Roman citadel, that night in a candlelit eco-lodge. Highlights for past guests.
Sat 29th May - Sat 5th June (half-term)
Ł1550 (Sgl Supp Ł185) Ł1120 without flights
With Nick Jackson
Price From
Ł1120
Visit Our Website >>
Holiday valid to
29 May 2010
Price Includes • Scheduled flights from London to Amman
• A private coach will coincide with group flights. You could join this or make your own way to the hotel
• Hotels 2 nights in a hotel in Amman (1B&B, 1HB); 1 night FB at eco
lodge in Wadi Feinan; 4 nights B&B in a 3* hotel with swimming pool
close to the gates of Petra
• Meals 1 lunch (Day 4) and 2 dinners (Days 2 & 3) included
• Transport to all sites in programme by private coach or 4x4
• Guide Lecturer for all sites in the programme (you will also be accompanied by a Jordanian local guide)
• Fieldnotes written for the tour
• Entry to all sites in programme (optional excursions to the Dead Sea Day 2: Ł28 tbc; to Beidha and Wadi Rum Day 7: Ł38 tbc)
• We tip the driver and the local guide on your behalf
Price Excludes There are unlikely to be many options for flights to Jordan, but you may be lucky - see above for price without flights.
On this Bare Bones tour you are often free to find your own meals - we have included them when this would be difficult.
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