During January and December 2005, two archaeological surveys were conducted in areas slated for the establishment of the Shlomit and Haluzit 4 settlements and for the agricultural area of Haluzit 4 in the northwestern Negev, south and southeast of Moshav Dekel and Moshav Yevul, next to the border with Egypt (Permit No. A-4367; map ref. NIG 132900–6995/563350–9200; OIG 082900–6995/063350–9200). The surveys, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Eshkol Regional Council and the Jewish National Fund, were conducted by Y. Lender and P. Nahshoni (the settlement areas) and by P. Nahshoni and V. Carmel (the agricultural area) with the assistance of C. Hersch (pottery drawing).
The survey area (c. 8,000 dunams; Fig. 1) consisted of stabilized sand dunes, oriented generally east–west, with shallow valleys between them. The differences in elevation between the top of the dunes and the bottom of the valleys spanned 5–15 m. The remains of temporary encampments and animal pens were clearly visible in the area, located in shallow hollows and in the valleys, indicating intensive grazing activity in the area during different periods. Twenty-three sites were recorded in the survey: ten in the area of Shelomit, six in the area of Haluzit 4 and seven in the agricultural area. Potsherd and flint scatterings of different sizes were found at the sites, as well as the remains of hearths; no building remains were detected. The sites are described below (Tables 1–3); their numbers match those in Fig. 1.
Table 1. Sites within the precincts of Shelomit.
Site No. |
Map Reference (NIG) |
Site |
Ceramic Finds and Dating (periods) |
1 |
133387/563970 |
Scattering of potsherds, flint flakes and small stones (diam. c. 50 m) on a gentle slope |
Late Roman: jar (Fig. 2:5) |
2 |
134229/563970 |
Scattering of potsherds and flint flakes (diam. c. 60 m) in a small valley |
Iron I: bowl (Fig. 2:1); Byzantine: jar (Fig. 2:7), jug (Fig. 2:8) |
3 |
132903/564161 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 20 m) on a gentle slope |
Byzantine and Ottoman |
4 |
133330/564386 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 20 m) on a gentle slope |
Byzantine(?) |
5 |
134005/564689 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 20 m) on a gentle slope |
Iron II: Negebite ware (Fig. 2:2); Byzantine and Ottoman |
6 |
134367/564794 |
Meager scattering of potsherds (diam. c. 20 m) on a gentle slope |
Byzantine and Ottoman |
7 |
133585/565075 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 20 m) in a shallow valley |
Byzantine and Ottoman |
8 |
133519/565205 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 20 m) along a road, on a plain |
Byzantine and Ottoman |
9 |
133368/565376 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) next to a road, on a plain |
Iron Age(?); Byzantine and Ottoman |
10 |
134466/565506 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 30 m) along a road, on a plain |
Byzantine: jar (Fig. 2:6); Ottoman |
Table 2. Sites within the precincts of Haluzit 4.
Site No. |
Map Reference (NIG) |
Site |
Ceramic Finds and Dating (periods) |
1 |
136427/563781 |
Scattering of flint flakes, small stones, bones and a few potsherds (diam. c. 60 m) along a road in a valley |
|
2 |
135533/563691 |
Potsherd scattering and remains of hearths (see below) |
|
3 |
135548/563352 |
Continuation of Site 2; potsherds and remains of hearths scattered in a north–south strip (length c. 350 m); the continuation of the site to the east and west may be buried beneath the sand dunes |
Iron Age; Byzantine and Islamic |
4 |
135455/563999 |
Scattering of potsherds and a few flint flakes (diam. c. 60 m) west of a road |
Late Islamic: jug (Fig. 2:9); Ottoman(?) |
5 |
136486/564021 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) along a road, in a valley |
Byzantine and Ottoman |
6 |
136232/563379 |
Scattering of potsherds and a few flint flakes (diam. c. 50 m) along a road, in a valley |
Byzantine; Mamluk(?) and Ottoman |
Table 3. Sites located in the agricultural area.
Site No. |
Map Reference (NIG) |
Site |
Ceramic Finds and Dating (periods) |
1 |
135015/563685 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 25 m) |
Byzantine |
2 |
134266/563933 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) |
Roman–Byzantine |
3 |
134322/563855 |
Potsherd scattering (diam c. 20 m) |
Ottoman or British Mandate era |
4 |
134033/563890 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) |
Late Roman: jar (Fig. 2:4); Byzantine and Late Islamic |
5 |
134067/563627 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) |
Iron II: cooking pot (Fig. 2:3); Roman, Byzantine and Late Islamic |
6 |
134221/563638 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) |
Roman–Byzantine |
7 |
134318/563659 |
Potsherd scattering (diam. c. 50 m) |
Roman–Byzantine |
Potsherds of black Gaza ware were also found at all the sites. The survey findings show that the area—between Haluza and Gaza and its daughter settlements—was intersected by ancient routes and that until the current survey, as in antiquity, the region was used for seasonal grazing and shepherd encampments, without any permanent settlements.