The archaeologists behind the survey hoped for insight into two questions about the Byzantine Negev. How did the arid southern desert became so prosperous back then? And why did the good times end?A long and informative article on the survey.
For PaleoJudaica posts on the recent archaeology of the late-antique Negev, see the links collected here, plus here and here. For a couple of important, slightly later discoveries in the region, see here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.