Desert outsiders: Extramural neighborhoods in the Iron Age Negev

Abstract

Archaeological studies show that in many cases ancient settlements expanded beyond what is usually considered their physical boundaries- the city wall. These extramural neighborhoods appear either abutting the outer face of the fortifications, located near the city gate, or architectonically relating to the city walls. At Palestine expansion outside the city walls occurred in various sites and regions and became most common during the Late Iron Age. Although the emergence of extramural neighborhoods is often mentioned in relation to the ancient Near East urban environment the extramural phenomenon is usually discussed in general terms. The proximity of a settlement to a trade route or its own functioning as a trade center could have motivated the development of markets outside the city walls. The similarity between the Beersheba Valley sites and the fortress of Kadesh Barnea is evident from a chronological and a geographical perspective.Keywords: Beersheba Valley sites; city wall; extramural neighborhoods; Iron Age; Kadesh Barnea; Palestine; trade route