ICHAJ13 2019 Driessen-Abudanah The Udhruh Intervisibility (original) (raw)

The antique communication system in the area of Udhruh – consisting in fortlets and watchtowers on prominent summits – was established in the Nabataean period, and was not as some earlier researchers thought constructed as exclusive part of the Roman military defence. The Udhruh’ communication system was a multi-purpose system through which the communication and control for military, trade, and agricultural settlements was combined. In the Roman era this perfectly laid out security system was reused, and most probably adapted to thewishes of the Roman authorities. The communication system was also actively exploited in the Byzantine period, and most probably used to control and safeguard the wide variety of water harvesting and field systems in the area around Udhruh.