Qasr Tuba

History

Like the other desert castles, Qasr Tuba was built during the Umayyad Caliphate. The site was brought to art historical attention after it was visited in 1896 by the Czech explorer Alois Musil.

Description

Like another Umayyad desert castle, Qasr Mshatta, Qasr Tuba was built using a combination of limestone and bricks. Its plan consists of an oblong enclosure measuring 140 m by 72 m, almost a double square, or 2 symmetrical enclosures joined through a long central corridor. The enclosure walls are supported by semi-round towers, except on the north side where the two gateways are flanked by two square rooms. The northwestern section is nearly intact and several lengths of curtain-wall exist on the western side. The rest of the building, which was never completed, is not preserved.

Wells are located nearby, close to a dry river bed ("wadi").