Olive Trees in Past Desert Agriculture in the Negev Highlands

Pre-farming environment and OSL chronology in the Negev Highlands, Israel

“…This indicates a continuity of environmental conditions since at least the Iron Age up to today. The surviving old olive trees (Ashkenazi et al, 2011), as well as the widespread agricultural activities still practiced by the Bedouin, demonstrate that the present environmental and climate conditions still facilitate the same type of farming as in historical times. This indicates that climatic changes were not necessary for the initiation or demise of the major agricultural phase.…”

“…11). The old olive trees, spread over several sites in the Negev Highlands (Ashkenazi et al, 2011), indicate the continuity of the environmental conditions during the last half millennium and demonstrate the absence of catastrophic, extended droughts during this period. This hints at the ability of most of the Mediterranean crops, when irrigated by floods, to survive the present harsh desert conditions.…”

“…The deep moisture storage of the loess soils after irrigation enables these crops to yield a reasonable harvest in the desert agriculture plots. Recent research has focused on the agriculture activity lead by the local Bedouins of the Negev Highlands (Ashkenazi et al, 2011). Earlier unpublished reports highlighted the lack of solid agricultural knowledge among the Bedouins which resulted in poor yields.…”

Fruit trees’ survival ability in an arid desert environment without irrigation in the Negev Highlands of Southern Israel

“…The groves were deliberately planted by the Bedouins in pre-existing agricultural systems, most of which were built during the Byzantine era (Palmer 1871;Woolley & Lawrence 1914;Canaan 1928;Zohary 1954;Markus 1983;Haiman 1986Haiman , 1993Meshel 1991;Ashkenazi et al 2011). Most of the researchers agree that the Byzantine era was the most active period of settling and agricultural productivity in the Negev in general and the Negev Highlands in particular.…”

A comprehensive characterization of ancient desert agricultural systems in the Negev Highlands of Israel

“…The cultivation of figs is mentioned in Nessana Papyrus 32 (Kraemer, 1958). Based on species found in present-day Bedouin groves in the Negev (Ashkenazi et al, 2011), it seems that pomegranate and almonds were also grown in the ancient fields. In addition, some Bedouin names for dry riverbeds, such as "Wadi of Olives" and "Wadi of Pomegranates" relate to the recent existence of these fruit trees in the Negev Highlands (Rubin, 1990).…”