Unearthing the Wilderness: Studies on the History and Archaeology of the Negev and Edom in the Iron Age

A comprehensive study challenges long-held assumptions about the static nature of tribes and chiefdoms in the Negev, Edom, and northern Hejaz during the Iron Age. By integrating socio-economic analysis with archaeological data, including ceramics, metals, inscriptions, and radiocarbon dating, the research demonstrates that these polities evolved dynamically in response to changing imperial administrations and economic policies, particularly those linked to copper mining and incense trade. The study also revisits the significance of Timna as a key mining site, suggesting a longer usage period than previously thought and questioning the role of Egyptian administration in its development. Additionally, it provides new insights into the production and distribution of Edomite pottery, indicating local manufacturing rather than imports from Transjordan, which necessitates a reassessment of assumptions about ethnicity and trade networks.

Darby, E. (2018). Unearthing the Wilderness: Studies on the History and Archaeology of the Negev and Edom in the Iron Age. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 6(4), 392–394. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.6.4.0392