Early Bronze Age IV Settlement Pattern of the Negev and Sinai Deserts: View from Small Marginal Temporary Sites

Abstract

Approximately 1,000 EB IV sites have been surveyed to date in the Negev and Sinai deserts. A few of these sites are large, permanent settlements located near water sources and consisting of 100 to 200 structures. The vast majority, however, are small, temporary sites with a few poorly built structures, located far from water sources. Reexamination of the finds that reflected the economy of the sites revealed evidence of pastoralism and agriculture, primarily in the small temporary sites. In the large, permanent settlements, however, there was extensive evidence related to industry and trade in copper, on a much larger scale than previously believed. The author maintains that the emergence of settlements in the desert during EB IV is related to the transport of copper from Feinan to Egypt by Asians. Following the establishment of large, permanent settlements, mainly by copper-specialists whose main economy was not dependent on the desert environment, there was a rise in seminomadic activity throughout this area, as evidenced in the hundreds of small temporary sites.