Little Petra Siq

Just 6 km north the Nabataean capital's centre, the Siq al-Barid ("cold canyon"), also known as Little Petra, and the area around Al-Beidha were an important base for the long-distance trade, and an ideal rest place for caravans. On the once fertile plains the pack and saddle animals could graze extensively. Thanks to numerous cisterns, there was sufficient water so that agriculture could flourish, including wine growing and making, as evidenced by a large number of well-preserved wine presses.