The Bedul are a small tribe of Bedouin who used to live in the caves in Petra. The Jordanian government built them a small village north of Petra with schools and modern utilities. Below are some pictures of the Bedul merchants you might meet while visiting Petra. There are five Bedul tribal lineages, but none of them goes back more than five or six generations. Some of the other tribes look down on them, as it is assumed that they were pushed into the ruins of Petra as outcasts several hundred years ago. There is no record of the Bedul being related to the Nabataean people. Today there is competition and sometimes conflict between the Bedul and the Liyathnah tibe who live in and around Wadi Mousa.
This family lived in a cave in Petra. This picture was taken by Dan Gibson in the 1970s.
Another family living in a cave in the 1980s. In the center of the photo a lady is making cheese/butter. Milk is placed in an animal skin and shaken.
Dan Gibson with a Bedul friend near the nymphium in 2001
Page Discussion
Membership is required to comment. Membership is free of charge and available to everyone over the age of 16. Just click SignUp, or make a comment below. You will need a user name and a password. The system will automatically send a code to your email address. It should arrive in a few minutes. Enter the code, and you are finished.
Members who post adverts or use inappropriate language or make disrespectful comments will have their membership removed and be barred from the site. By becoming a member you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy, Cookies & Ad Policies. Remember that we will never, under any circumstances, sell or give your email address or private information to anyone unless required by law. Please keep your comments on topic. Thanks!