An excavation by the Negev Antiquities Authority uncovered a tomb containing the remains of merchant caravans that passed through here, from Yemen, Phoenicia, and Egypt. Many items were buried alongside the bodies, including arrowheads from Yemen. * Researchers: The caravans traded in myrrh and frankincense, and perhaps also in women

What was a 2,500-year-old burial complex, where dozens of people were buried, doing at a remote site in the Negev Mountains? Researchers from the Israel Antiquities Authority who discovered the unique site in the Tlalim Junction area believe that the complex tells the story of the Arab merchant caravans that passed through here in ancient times, including even caravans from distant Yemen.
"The site contains an extraordinary concentration of flint items. These are tools that have no evidence anywhere in Israel, and the only source we know of is in Yemen and Oman," he said. Dr. Yaakov Vardi, flint tool expert from the Israel Antiquities Authority"On some of the items we also found remains of ochre – a material that was used, in ancient cultures, for marking blood and for other coloring purposes. The presence of ochre on these items may indicate that these are objects with religious or ritual significance, and of special value."
"This is an extraordinary discovery, indicating broad connections with the cultures of southern and northern Arabia, Phoenicia, Egypt, and southern Europe. The excavation directors say, Dr. Martin David Pasternak and Dr. Tali Erickson – Guinea from the Israel Antiquities Authority. "In the two burial structures we discovered, dating from the 5th-7th centuries BC, an extraordinary wealth of finds was discovered: copper and silver jewelry, hundreds of beads made of colored stones, rare shells, an amulet of the Egyptian god Bes, alabaster vessels used to store expensive perfumes from the southern Arabian Peninsula, and much more. The diverse finds indicate that the site, which was previously unknown, served as a burial site on the trade routes of that period." "And here the merchants held burial and worship ceremonies."
The large number of those buried at the site raises two main possibilities: one - that the place served - for many generations - as a burial site for caravans that passed through this point, and the other - that it is a mass grave, built following a sudden event experienced by one of the caravans - perhaps an attack.
"No settlement or fortress was found near the site to which the tombs could be associated, and therefore the structures are considered a mystery," the researchers say. "It appears that the remains are related to merchants from southern Arabia, who were known for their long trade voyages, among other things, to sell perfumes such as frankincense and myrrh."
Naturally, these long journeys lasted months, under difficult weather conditions, exposure to highway robbers, and other challenges.
"This is one of the most interesting sites we've come across," they add. Dr Pasternak and Dr. Erickson-Gini.The structure and diverse findings reinforce the understanding that the Negev was much more than an international transit route – it was also a vibrant meeting point of traders and cultures."
"In light of the presence of certain objects, we assume that some of the discovered burials were women – and it is not impossible, even, that the caravan was engaged in the trade in women; texts by traders from the Yemeni region who operated in the second half of the 2st millennium BCE (called Mena'inim), describe the trade in women, mainly from the city of Gaza, but also from Egypt, Greece, Moab and Edom.". Inscriptions discovered in Yemen detail a list of more than 80 "foreign women" who were purchased from various places, of which about 30 women were purchased in Gaza City.
Further evidence of the presence of women in the tombs may be the discovery of an amulet bearing the image of the Egyptian god S. This god is considered to be the god who protects women and their children from evil forces.
According to Eli Escozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The discovery highlights the central role of the Negev in ancient times as an international crossroads and a gateway for trade and the meeting of cultures. The extraordinary find allows us to touch on small and important moments in the history of people who walked here in the desert thousands of years ago. Multidisciplinary research will allow us to deepen our knowledge about the cultural and economic dynamics in the region thousands of years ago."
The discovery will be presented to the public for the first time as part of the new lecture series - "Archaeological Mysteries" to be delivered by Israel Antiquities Authority experts at the J. and Ginny Schottenstein National Center for Archaeology of Jerusalem, on February 10.2.2025, XNUMX. Details on the Israel Antiquities Authority website
More of the topic in Hayadan: (Beresheet is the Hebrew name for the book of Genesis)