Created to accompany the exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, this lavishly illustrated book contains 22 essays describing history and culture during the ancient city's Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The first group of essays discusses the origins of the Nabataeans as well as their languages and writing, trade, pottery, the sanctuaries Dharih and Tannur, the Nabataean Negev, and Nabataean communities by the Dead Sea, at Bosra, and in Southern Syria. The second group covers topics such as Petra as portrayed by 19th-century artist/travelers; the rock-cut architecture of Petra; the Petra survey project; the sculpture of Petra and Khirbet et-Tannur; and individual structures at Petra, including the Byzantine Church. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)