Z. AL-SALAMEEN 115 ARAM, 17 (2005) 115-127 NABATAEAN WINEPRESSES FROM BAYDA, SOUTHERN JORDAN 1 Dr. ZEYAD AL-SALAMEEN (al-Hussein Bin Talal University - Jordan) ABSTRACT This paper will deal with a number of Nabataean rock-cut winepresses from Bayda, about 5 km north of the Nabataean capital, Petra. A few of these presses have been mentioned and documented in earlier archaeological works. Our fieldwork project in Bayda lasted over the period from Oct. to Nov. 2002 and aimed mainly at examining such installations especially in terms of their spatial and geographical distribution, their forms and sizes, in order to suggest the chronological sequences of the use of these presses and to check the possibility of exportation of wine. Thirty-six presses have been recorded during the survey, distributed geographically all over the site. All are carved in the rock and no additional or stone-built rooms were added to them. Two main types of presses have been noted: simple ones (which consist of two basins) and large ones (three basins). Some were seemingly roofed, a few were paved with white mosaic and some of the collecting vats were vaulted. The preliminary quantitative study of the production indicates that wine was produced ini- tially to be consumed locally within the Greater Petra Region and part might had been sold to the merchants and travelers who passed by Petra, which was the main commer- cial caravan station in Nabataea. Production for export does not seem to have taken place. Archaeological surveys and excavations in Nabataea have provided ample evidence that the Nabataeans practiced agriculture as soon as they abandoned their nomadic pattern of life and became sedentary. Their agricultural fields, terraces, dams, cisterns, reservoirs and water channels are still testament to the uniqueness and the greatness of their achievements and show the advanced hydrological level that they reached. Recent archaeological works in Bayda, which is located 5 km north of Petra, have shown that it was intensively cultivated during the Nabataean pe- riod. In 1978 the first comprehensive and systematic study began, when Z. al- 1  A detailed study of the Nabataean agriculture in the site and in Nabataea in general is in- cluded in the author’s PhD dissertation about the Nabataean economy. Thanks are due to Profes- sor J. Healey for his unlimited support. Sincere thanks also to Dr Peter Parr, Dr Fawwaz al- Khrayshah, Director General of the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, Dr K. ‘Amr, Sulaiman al-Farajat, Mohammad al-Shobaki and to Qais Tweissi. Special thanks are due also to Hani al- Falahat from the Petra Antiquities who joined me during my first day in the site.