Zooarchaeology of the social and economic upheavals in the Late Antique-Early Islamic sequence of the Negev Desert

Abstract

The Byzantine – Islamic transition (7 th –8 th centuries CE) in the desert-edge Palaestina Tertia is examined using faunal remains recovered from archaeological sites in the Negev. Archaeozoological analyses suggest sharp differences between Late Byzantine and Early Islamic animal economies, especially in herding patterns and the exploitation of wildlife resources. These differences are suggested to reflect both cultural and land ownership changes following the Arab conquest, against the backdrop of climatic change. The archaeozoological record thereby provides independent evidence to the rise and fall of societal complexity in this marginal region.

Considering change with archaeological data: Reevaluating local variation in the role of the ~4.2k BP event in Northwest China

“…The actual relative proportion of grains, animals and their products, as well as other aspects of the societies in question, including the built environment, must be taken into account. Carful excavation of domestic settings and analysis of ceramic and lithic assemblages, coupled with robust zooarchaeological and paleobotanical studies provide the best methodology to ascertain subsistence practices (e.g., Marom et al, 2019;Shelach, 2009;Bogaard et al, 2017). In fact, recently, with the introduction of stable isotope analysis, a complicated picture has begun to emerge where grains remained important, but with varying degrees, among the many different communities that inhabited this region during the 3 rd and 2 nd millenniums BCE (and see discussion section below).…”

Climate stability and societal decline on the margins of the Byzantine empire in the Negev Desert

“…In this study, we use dietary proxies of domestic ovicaprids (sheep and goats) recently excavated at the Byzantine/Early Islamic town of Subeita (Shivta) and Nessana (Nitzana) and the Byzantine city of Elusa (Halutza) 13 . Although a mix of ancient Greek and Hebrew names, we use the names Shivta, Nessana and Elusa to make the terminology consistent with previous publications of these archaeological assemblages.…”

“…The aim of the study is to 1) better understand the environmental conditions in which the Byzantine settlements developed, and 2) assess whether any climatic shifts may have led to the end of Byzantine presence in the Negev Desert. Stable carbon ( 13 C, ratio of 13 C/ 12 C) and stable oxygen (δ 18 O, ratio of 18 O/ 16 O) isotopic values of tooth enamel carbonate, and stable carbon and nitrogen (δ 15 N, ratio of 15 N/ 14 N) isotopic values of tooth dentine and mandibular bone collagen are used to assess the grazing behaviour and mobility patterns of the animals. These reflect the type of vegetation and thus the climatic opportunities in the settled parts of the desert.…”

“…The loess soil above the dams in the wadis can then preserve moisture through the long and dry summers 3 . 13 .…”

“…Linear correlations between the three δ 13 C proxies from each individual. (a) average δ 13 C enamel vs. average δ 13 C dentine , (b) average δ 13 C enamel vs 13. C mandibular bone collagen , (c) average δ 13 C dentine vs. δ 13 C mandibular bone collagen .…”