Tombs of Hegra

The Nabataeans carved around 100 monumental tombs at Hegra. These tombs are concentrated in groups carved into individual outcrops of rock around the city area, with views of the vast landscape between them. Significant concentrations of tombs include those at Qasr al-Bint, al-Khuraymat and Jabal al-Mahjar.
The tomb craftsmen of Hegra were exceptionally skilled, planning and carving out the design and layout of each tomb so that it was adapted to the size and shape of the natural rock outcrops, and accommodating any defects or geological characteristics such as quartz seams running through the rock. At Jabal al-Ahmar for example, the stonemasons have deliberately carved the tombs relatively high above the ground to avoid the issues of erosion.
A large amount of stone must have been removed during the carving of the tombs at Hegra, over a relatively short timespan, and yet there is limited evidence for large spoil heaps. It therefore seems likely that stone was removed in blocks and re-used in construction works within the city, for example in the buildings, streets and to line the wells. Finer decoration, such as the carving of wings and tailfeathers of the eagles, would have been executed using picks, spindles, chisels and abrasives.