Text throughout the exhibition contains sections called "How Do We Know?" that focus on archaeological techniques. Ask students to locate three of these sections and to identify what tools archaeologists rely on to answer these questions. What disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics) are involved?

The map page of this guide pictures six artifacts from the exhibition. Distribute photocopies of the map page to your students and ask them to locate the items in the exhibition. A booklet of these images can also be printed from the Web site (www.amnh.org/ education/ resources/ exhibitions/ petra/). For each item, ask the students why they think it was placed in that location. What aspect of Petran civilization does the item exemplify or help explain?

Ask students to form groups of three to four and to look for stories about the lives of the residents of Petra. ("One Woman's Records" in Under Roman Rule, and "Reluctant Christians?" and "A Man of Property" in The Byzantine Era). What interests your students about the stories? Where does the information about these people come from? What more would they like to know about each person's daily life? Students should take notes and share their questions and insights with fellow students back in the classroom.

The names given to various places in Petra do not necessarily reflect what the inhabitants called them. The original names have been lost. Ask students to go through the exhibition, and consider the aptness of names assigned to various structures, such as The Treasury. Which places might they rename, and why?

The exhibition contains many artifacts that relate to urban life in Petra. Ask students to divide a piece of paper into quarters and to choose four objects: one that was used in daily life, a second that had a religious purpose, a piece of currency, and something decorative. Have them draw each one.

Ask students to locate an artifact that interests them, and to imagine that they have discovered it. Have them write a letter to a museum curator. What questions would they ask about the object's origin and purpose? The letter should include a detailed drawing and description of the artifact.