Situated around 7km south of Petra, and along the road to the copper mines, this was a major caravan station and settlement. The site is notable for its theatre, water catchment system, and acropolis mount. The map shown here indicate that the Nabataeans built watch towers and check-points along the caravan route passing through Wadi Araba to protect and control it. This caravan settlement lies along one of the Petra–Gaza trade routes and would have been a main stop for travelers, with its theatre and acropolis. Along the trade route there are also many caravanserais, which were there to accommodate the camel caravans that passed by. Some examples are Bir Madhkour, Ain Rahel, Qasr al-Mahle and Oboda,