Sensing the Dead: Mortuary Ritual and Tomb Visitation at Nabataean Petra

Abstract

The visual prominence of mortuary structures within the Nabataean capital city of Petra clearly indicates that the deceased maintained a constant presence amongst the living. However, current systematic archaeological exploration of these mortuary features documents a more intimate view of the interaction between the living and the dead. Since 1998, the Petra North Ridge Project has sought to record the mortuary practices and gather data on health and diet of non-elite residents of 1st cent. ad Petra. Artifactual, taphonomic, and osteological data indicate that engagement of the city’s inhabitants with the dead occurred through the senses of smell, touch, taste, and sight. Nabataean visits to their familial tombs included ritual feasting and reorganization of the mortuary space, accompanied by the scents of incense, perfumed oils, and quicklime. In addition, mourners left behind material goods that served to illuminate, bedazzle, and entertain the dead. Through this repeated exchange of sensory stimulation, the Nabataeans established and preserved a dynamic relationship with their deceased ancestors.