The 'Ain La'ban Oasis: A Nabataean Population Center

Abstract

The oasis of 'Ain La'ban, in northern Edom, was a major population center from at least the Iron Age through Nabataean times. During the Nabataean period, a major sanctuary, Qasr edh-Dherih, was constructed at the site, and a magistrate, who is documented in an inscription of 7 B. C., regulated the water supply at the springs. The region flourished during the period of Nabataean prominence, with a high density of towns, villages and farmsteads within a few km. of the oasis. The Qasr seems to have been rebuilt and adorned with sculptural decoration early in the second century A. C. But shortly after this time, several events caused the depopulation of the area. Trajan's construction of the Via Nova some distance to the east, a major earthquake, and the end of the Nabataean kingdom itself caused the oasis to be abandoned and habitation to grow up along the new Roman highway, where a major fortress, Rujm Faradeeyh, possibly Nabataean in origin, became the center of population. As long as the Via Nova was in use, 'Ain La'ban was bypassed, and it was not until modern times that the oasis was repopulated.

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