Jordan contains Petra, the ancient rock-cut city and archaeological site in the country’s southwestern region.
Petra was established as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, an Arab trading state that flourished from roughly the fourth century BC. Its location between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea helped it control important caravan routes carrying incense, spices, and other goods. The city’s buildings were carved into rose-colored sandstone cliffs, giving Petra its famous nickname, the “Rose City.”
The Roman Empire annexed Petra in AD 106, and the city later declined as trade routes changed and earthquakes damaged its water systems. Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt brought it to wider Western attention in 1812. The best-known monument, Al-Khazneh, is often called the Treasury, although its original purpose remains debated. Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.