Intangible Heritage of Bedouins: Habitat, Habitus and Representations of Nomadic Culture

Abstract

The chapter proposes a graphic analysis of the intangible expression of nomadic Bedouin culture, starting from the material equipment of the black tent in relation to its natural ecosystem, temporary habitat and socio-economic system. Starting from the literature review, mainly of anthropological nature, the conscious relationship between habitat and dwelling in the desert context was investigated, especially that of the Jordanian Bedouins and their wadis. The globalisation phenomena have led to a radical change in the organisational models of the populations that have historically inhabited steppes and deserts. In many cases, international tourism, also attracted by the extraordinary archaeological and natural beauties (just think of Petra, recognised as a universal heritage site), has changed the pastoral micro-economy typical of nomadic living towards new models of subsistence or urban marginalisation. Although this anthropological phenomenon has been widely described in the literature, few contributions highlight the symbolic and visual value of the black tent as a perfect balance between dwelling consciousness and a symbiotic relationship with the landscape adjacent to the domestic interior. The illustrations, presented here for the first time, highlight the aesthetic influence of the desert landscape on nomadic culture, the characteristics of the tent construction system and the geometric motifs of the fabrics which, acting as walls, compose its structure and functional parts. The geometric motifs and shapes symbolically translate the natural elements and bring them into the interior, making the tent organic to the environmental context and richly representative of the Bedouin intangible heritage.