NEW ROCK ART DISCOVERIES IN JORDAN:

Petroglyphs found in the

Black Desert of Jordan.

Photo: Peter Akkermans.

A November 21, 2016, article on LiveScience, written by Owen Jarus, covers the recording of "thousands of inscriptions and petroglyphs dating back around 2,000 years - in the Jebel Qurma region of Jordan's Black Desert." (Jarus 2016) The article details discoveries by a team led by Peter Akkermans, of  The Netherlands Leiden University, who leads a study project at Jebel Qurma. "Nowadays, the Jebel Qurma area, and the Black Desert in general, is a highly inhospitable area, very arid and difficult to cross," said Akkermans.

Petroglyphs found in the

Black Desert of Jordan.

Photo: Peter Akkermans

Petroglyphs found in the

Black Desert of Jordan.

Photo: Peter Akkermans

"The inscriptions are written in Safaitic, and alphabetic script used by people who lived in parts of Syria, Jordan, and Arabia in ancient times." (Jaris 2016) The team's discoveries show that the Jebel Qurma area had trees, wildlife, and a large human population around 2,000 years ago.

Petroglyphs found in the

Black Desert of Jordan.

Photo: Peter Akkermans

Petroglyphs found in the

Black Desert of Jordan.

Photo: Peter Akkermans

"The petroglyphs, or rock art, show images of lions, gazelles, horses, and large birds that may be ostriches. The inscriptions found near these petroglyphs tend to be very short. "Most of the texts are simply names, like so-and-so, the son of so-and-so," Akkermans said.  A few inscriptions suggest that the population of Jebel Qurma had conflicts with the people of the ancient city of Petra, the Nabataeans. (Jarus 2016)

Petroglyphs found in the

Black Desert of Jordan.

Photo: Peter Akkermans

"Other inscriptions tell of  the challenges and setbacks encountered by the people who lived at Jebel Qurma. "May there be strength against hunger," one inscription reads, while another was written by a man who said he was 'distraught over his beloved.'" (Jarus 2016)

The changes in habitability indicated by the petroglyphs and inscriptions should be seen in light of our present challenges caused by climate change. If such major environmental changes can happen under natural conditions in a relatively short time, under essentially natural conditions, what kinds of changes can we expect in the relatively near future under conditions of increasing global warming caused by human activities? Perhaps we should take this as a serious warning.

Note: to see the full article visit LiveScience at http://wwwllivescience.com/56944-ancient-inscriptions-found-in-black-desert.html.

REFERENCE:

Jarus, Owen,

2016    Ancient Inscriptions Show Life Once Flourished in Jordan's 'Black Desert', LiveScience, November 21, 2016, http://wwwllivescience.com/56944-ancient-inscriptions-found-in-black-desert.html.