AIA Lecture – The Nabataean Achievement at Petra

After languishing for centuries in obscurity, the archaeological ruins ofPetra have become much better known in recent years, thanks to popularization by the movies, UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, and (relatively) favorable political conditions in Jordan. Nevertheless, the Nabataean people, who were responsible for building the spectacular monuments we see today at Petra, remain under-examined and little understood, although their remarkable civilization flourished in the Near East for over four hundred years.  This lecture will provide an introduction to this enduring legacy at Petra, while also setting the enigmatic Nabataeans and their cultural achievements within a broader historical context.  Speaker Dr. Jeff Pearson is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Classics for the 2011-2012 academic year at Macalester.  The lecture will be held Thursday, February 2, 20012 at 6pm in the John B. Davis Lecture Hall in the basement of the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center at Macalester College.  It is sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America.