Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists have uncovered a previously unknown burial site in the Negev Highlands, shedding light on ancient trade networks spanning Arabia, Phoenicia, Egypt, and Southern Europe, the IAA said Wednesday.
Among their discoveries were 2,500-year-old arrowheads from Yemen, which suggested that the site had served as a burial ground for trade caravans traversing the desert.
Located near Telalim junction, the excavation site has revealed dozens of tombs containing a rich variety of artifacts, including flint tools, jewelry, alabaster vessels, and religious amulets.
According to excavation director Dr. Martin David Pasternak and senior researcher Dr. Tali Erickson-Gini, the findings indicate a vibrant cultural interchange between different regions in the first millennium BCE.
A collection of flint arrowheads that was uncovered at the site originated in Yemen and Oman, the researchers said.The IAA’s Dr. Jacob Verdi, an expert on flint tools, said some of the arrowheads bore traces of red ochre, a substance often used in ancient cultures for religious or decorative purposes.
“The presence of ochre on these artifacts may indicate their cultic significance, giving them special value beyond their practical use,” he said.
Among the other artifacts recovered were copper and silver jewelry, incense preparation tools, hundreds of colorful stone beads, and rare seashells. An amulet depicting the Egyptian god Bes, known for protecting women and children, was also found.
Intriguing questions
Ahead of DNA testing, researchers were able to determine that the groups found in the tombs were women because of the sheer volume of bracelets and other items that were found.
The burial site poses intriguing questions for researchers. Unlike typical burial grounds, it is not located near any known settlements or fortresses, making its purpose unclear.
Experts proposed two main possibilities: Either the site was used over generations by trade caravans as a designated burial ground, or it was the result of a mass burial following an attack on a traveling caravan.
“The tombs are situated at a key crossroads in the Negev, linking trade routes from the Arabian Peninsula to the Levant and Mediterranean,” the report said. “This supports the theory that the Negev was not just a transit point but a hub of international commerce and cultural exchange.”
The excavation site, which was initially excavated to build a water pipe before the archaeological treasures were found, had uncovered more than researchers could have imagined, senior researcher Dr. Tali Erickson-Gini told The Jerusalem Post.
“There wasn’t a fort, a tel [hill], a village nearby, so they had to have been merchants,” she said. “There was an inscription found in Yemen that spoke of temple prostitutes and specifically noted the purchase of 30 women from Gaza, as well as Egypt, Greece, and other areas.”
It was possible that the women uncovered might have been part of this ancient prostitution trade, Erickson-Gini said.
The discoveries led the researchers to believe that the women may have died along the route, also showing the historical correlation with suspected human trafficking.
IAA Director-General Eli Escusido emphasized the importance of the discovery in understanding the Negev’s historical significance.
“This find highlights the Negev as an ancient international crossroads, a gateway for trade, and a meeting place of cultures,” he said. “Through multidisciplinary research, we can further explore the economic and cultural dynamics that shaped this region thousands of years ago.”