Byzantine–Early Islamic agricultural systems in the Negev Highlands: Stages of development as interpreted through OSL dating

Avni, Gideon; Porat, Naomi; Avni, Yoav

doi:10.1179/0093469013z.00000000052

Cited by 63 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, in extreme floods, runoff harvested in these terraces would be protected from becoming drained to the downstream Wadi Shaharut. Structural characteristics of these terraces are similar to those of many agricultural runoff harvesting infrastructures that were located in many ephemeral stream channels across southern Israel and dated to the Byzantine Age (fourth to seventh century AD) [21][22][23]. As elsewhere, agricultural utilization of Byzantine runoff harvesting infrastructures during later ages is very probable [22,23].…”

Section: Indicators Of Ancient To Recent-past Runoff Agriculturementioning

confidence: 60%

“…Structural characteristics of these terraces are similar to those of many agricultural runoff harvesting infrastructures that were located in many ephemeral stream channels across southern Israel and dated to the Byzantine Age (fourth to seventh century AD) [21][22][23]. As elsewhere, agricultural utilization of Byzantine runoff harvesting infrastructures during later ages is very probable [22,23]. For example, evidence for modern agricultural land use was provided for terraced lands in some wadis across the central Arava Valley by the location of tillage-induced shallow soil furrows, which indicate recent (decades old) tillage by Bedouins [24].…”

Section: Indicators Of Ancient To Recent-past Runoff Agriculturementioning

confidence: 82%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ancient to Recent-Past Runoff Harvesting Agriculture in Recharge Playas of the Hyper-Arid Southern Israel

Stavi

Shem-Tov

Ragolsky

et al. 2017

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recharge playas are prevalent throughout the hyper-arid southern Negev and Arava Valley of Israel. While some of these playas are terminal, others were found to be not absolutely terminal, allowing, under extreme floods, the outlet of water from their beds to a draining, ephemeral channel. Indicators for ancient to recent-past agricultural practicing were recorded for two playas. In one of them, this included the archaeological remains of seven Byzantine-Age stone terraces across the playa bed, indicating ancient runoff harvesting agriculture. In another playa, the agricultural indicator included observations by key informants who reported the cropping of barley and wheat by Bedouin populations until the mid-1990s. This was supported by rare bibliographic sources, reporting the cropping of cereals at this site by Bedouins during the 1930s and 1940s. Agro-hydrological assessments of seven playas and their catchments were conducted, revealing a marginal agronomic potential under the current climatic conditions and only for a small number of them. The results highlight the profound environmental know-how of local populations that inhabited this harsh region. Furthermore, the results coincide with previous studies, which have reported drier climatic conditions at present compared to those in ancient times, and even compared to those during the mid-1990s.

show abstract

Section: Indicators Of Ancient To Recent-past Runoff Agriculturementioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Indicators Of Ancient To Recent-past Runoff Agriculturementioning

confidence: 82%

Ancient to Recent-Past Runoff Harvesting Agriculture in Recharge Playas of the Hyper-Arid Southern Israel

Stavi

Shem-Tov

Ragolsky

et al. 2017

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…periods (Avni et al. ). Investigation of the micro‐remains from Atar Haroa indicates no cereal cultivation, whereas livestock herding was based on local shrubs (Shahack‐Gross et al., ).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronology of an ancient water reservoir and the history of human activity in the Negev Highlands, Israel

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In antiquity, the development of techniques to collect and store water was fundamental to sustain life in arid regions. One way to overcome the problem of water supply in the desert was to construct water reservoirs and cisterns which collect surface runoff during rare rain events. Indeed, open reservoirs and rock‐cut cisterns are widely spread over the arid zone of the Negev Highlands. They were an important component of human activity in the area. Today, they can serve as sedimentary archives for archaeological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. To shed more light on this valuable archive, the chronology of an ancient stone‐lined, open reservoir was established by optically stimulated luminescence dating. By determining the age of the deposition of sediments associated with the reservoir, it was possible to constrain its construction (8th–11th centuries C.E.), duration of use (up to ca. 15th century C.E.), and final refilling (from the 15th century C.E. to the modern era). These results indicate that most human activity related to the reservoir occurred between the 8th‐to‐11th and the 15th centuries C.E., when permanent settlements are not recorded archaeologically in the region, suggesting that the studied water reservoir was primarily utilized by pastoral nomads.

show abstract

“…5;Lavee et al, 1997;Bruins & Ore, 2008). These systems date to the Byzantine (6 th and 7 th centuries CE) and Early Islamic periods (8 th -11 th centuries CE) (Haiman, 1995a;1995b;Avni et al, 2013). When these run-off systems were active, the landscape would have included tens to hundreds of orchards and vineyards, and been totally different from the current landscape.…”

Section: Fig 4: Agricultural Terraces In the Judean Mountainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Paleo-Anthropocene and the Genesis of the Current Landscape of Israel

Ackermann

Maeir

Frumin

et al. 2017

Journal of Landscape Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Worldwide, human impact on natural landscapes has intensified since prehistoric times, and this is well documented in the global archaeological record. The period between the earliest hominids and the Industrial Revolution of the late 18-19 th centuries is known as the Paleo-Anthropocene. The current study reviews key geoarchaeological, floral and faunal factors of the Paleo-Anthropocene in Israel, an area that has undergone human activities in various intensities since prehistoric times. It discusses significant human imprints on these three features in the Israeli landscape, demonstrating that its current form is almost entirely anthropogenic. Moreover, some of the past physical changes still dynamically shape Israel's zoological, archaeological and geomorphic landscape today. It is hoped that insights from this article might aid in guiding present-day management strategies of undeveloped areas through renewal of human activity guided by traditional knowledge.

show abstract

Byzantine–Early Islamic agricultural systems in the Negev Highlands: Stages of development as interpreted through OSL dating

Cited by 63 publications

References 36 publications

Ancient to Recent-Past Runoff Harvesting Agriculture in Recharge Playas of the Hyper-Arid Southern Israel

Ancient to Recent-Past Runoff Harvesting Agriculture in Recharge Playas of the Hyper-Arid Southern Israel

Chronology of an ancient water reservoir and the history of human activity in the Negev Highlands, Israel

The Paleo-Anthropocene and the Genesis of the Current Landscape of Israel

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About