Archive
Searchable rock and stone archive
Find specimens by location, composition, and archaeological context. Each entry includes photography, measurements, and field notes.
Explore ›
NABATEAN RESEARCH CENTER
Capabilities
What we offer
Access our comprehensive collection of documented artifacts, field journals, and conservation research from the Wadi Rum region.
Documentation
Field journal documentation
Read seasonal accounts from researchers working in the desert, recording conditions, observations, and on-site interpretations.
Read ›Guidelines
Conservation & ethics guidelines
Learn how we protect archaeological sites, care for artifacts, and work with local communities and authorities.
Discover ›What we have found in the desert
The Nabatean Research Center has catalogued thousands of specimens across Wadi Rum. Each rock tells a story of the people who lived here. Our work preserves what time and sand have left behind.
Rocks documented
15
Specimens catalogued and preserved
Field expeditions
15
Seasons of research across the region
Archive
Recent discoveries
Browse selections from our growing collection of documented specimens and field findings.
Sandstone formations
Carved surfaces from Nabatean period facades and ritual structures.
Wadi Rum
Carved stone
Nabatean era
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Granite specimens
Geological samples collected from northern escarpments and valley floors.
Northern sites
Granite
Geological
View ›
Pottery fragments
Ceramic remains showing settlement patterns, trade routes, and daily use.
Settlement sites
Pottery
Ceramic
View ›
Research
Archaeological research
We document and analyse specimens from across Wadi Rum, creating detailed records for future study.
Research ›Journal
Field documentation
Our researchers maintain journals recording conditions, findings, and questions at each site.
Field journal ›Protection
Conservation work
We protect archaeological sites and specimens using ethical practices that honour the past and respect present communities.
Conservation ›
Questions
Find answers about our research and archive
Learn how to use our database, request materials, and support conservation efforts in Wadi Rum.
How do I search the archive? +
Use the search function on the Rock Archive page to filter by location, stone type, or era. Each entry includes photographs, measurements, and site notes.
Do you offer internships? +
*Progressively would like to move towards this.* We work with students and early-career researchers through seasonal field programs. Positions are competitive and based on merit.
Can I use these images? +
Images are available for educational and research purposes. Contact us for permission or publication rights. Please credit the Nabatean Research Center.
How old are these artifacts? +
Most specimens date from the Nabatean period, roughly 1000 - 1,000,000 million years ago.
How are sites protected? +
We follow strict conservation ethics and work with local authorities to preserve sites. Our guidelines ensure research does not damage the landscape.
What makes this work important? +
These sites tell how people adapted to desert life, built trade networks, and created lasting cultures. Understanding that past helps us steward the desert today.
Can I contribute findings? +
Yes. Researchers and local observers can submit documentation through our Field Journal. Verified entries become part of the permanent record.
Is there a physical museum? +
The appropriation of a building is small and usesful as we move forward we would like to create a museum.
Explore the archive
Browse thousands of documented specimens and see what lies beneath the surface of the desert rock.
Join our work
Support conservation projects, sponsor research seasons, or volunteer with documentation efforts.
Newsletter
Stay in touch with the valley
Sign up to receive slow, occasional notes from the Field Journal, Rock Archive, and research work at the Nabatean Research Center.
Reach
Get in touch
We welcome inquiries from researchers, students, and visitors interested in our work.
