Pigeon-raising and sustainable agriculture at the fringe of the desert: a view from the Byzantine village of Sa'adon, Negev, Israel. (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tepper, Yotam; Weissbrod, Lior; Fried, Tal; Marom, Nimrod; Ramsay, Jennifer; Weinstein-Evron, Mina; Aharonovich, Sophia; Liphschitz, Nili; Farhi, Yoav; Yan, Xin; Boaretto, Elisabetta; Bar-Oz, Guy
• Is Part Of: Levant. Volume 50:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: sustainable agriculture -- Byzantine archaeology -- marginal areas -- dovecotes -- pigeon manure; Middle East -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Middle East -- History -- Periodicals; Middle East -- Civilization -- To 622 -- Periodicals; 939.4
• DOI: 10.1080/00758914.2018.1528532
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0075-8914

Abstract

Abstract : Deposits rich in bioarchaeological materials were unearthed in two dovecotes found near Sa'adon, a Byzantine-period village (5th–6th century CE) in the semi-arid part of the Negev. One structure contained a layer of pigeon manure and articulated pigeon skeletons, preserved occupation levels and evidence of sudden destruction (mid-6th century CE), whereas the other lacked distinct occupation debris indicting more orderly human abandonment. Our findings demonstrate the importance of raising pigeons for their high-quality manure in connection with agricultural development around the Negev Byzantine settlements. This product was essential for fertilizing vineyards and orchards; our findings provide direct evidence for the intensive nature of desert agriculture and a new approach to addressing questions of past human sustainability in an environmentally marginal area.