The Incense Route Desert Cities in the Negev

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The Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev

• World Heritage Site no. 1107
• Nominated 15/7/2005

Prepered by Dr. Tsvika Tsuk, Michal Levi - NPA
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The Negev The Southern Region of Israel

• Vast desert area with few water resources
• High mountains and deep canyons
• Cold winters and dry, hot summers
• Wilderness landscape
• Desert flowers bloom in spring after rainy winters

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Historical Background

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The Incense Route

• Frankincense, Myrrh and other spices passed
  through this
• route from Oman and Yemen to the Roman
  Empire

The Route began in Obar, Oman, passed the Saudian
Peninsula, and through Jordan near Petra, and the
Negev, ending at the port of Gaza
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The Incense Route

• From Gaza the valuable merchandise was shipped to
  Roman ports in the Mediterranean

Pliny the Elder described the Incense Route in
detail
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Plinys Description

• After the frankincense is collected, it is
  conveyed by camel to Sabota, and one of the gates
  of the city is opened to receive the merchandise.
  The kings enacted a permanent law that it is a
  serious crime for a camel bearing frankincense to
  divert from the main road. In Sabota, the priests
  levy a tithe on the frankincense for the god
  known as Sabin From here, the merchandise may
  be conveyed through the land of the Gebbanites
  only, and therefore tax must be paid to the king
  of this people as well. Their capital is Thomna,
  which is 1487.5 miles 2380 km from Gaza in
  Judea, located on the coast of the Mediterranean.
  The journey is divided into 65 stages 36.6 km
  each, at each of which is a rest station for the
  camels. Regular portions of frankincense must be
  paid to the priests of the lands, their kings,
  and their scribes. In addition, portions are also
  taken by guards at gates and their servants. In
  addition to these, they must pay all the way, in
  one place for water, elsewhere for a place at the
  way station, and also for food. Thus, expenses
  come to 688 denarii even before reaching the
  Mediterranean. Then our imperial tax officials
  must be paid again. Because of this, the price of
  good frankincense can be six denerii per liter,
  average frankincense can be five denarii, and the
  third type can be three denarii.
• Pliny, Historia Naturalis, 1232 63-65

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The Incense Route
Gaza
Haluza
Mamshit
Sivta
Nizana
Avdat
Graffon
Makhmal
Ein-Saharonim
Moa
Nekarot
Kasra
Petra
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SITES AND AREA
Linear Property The Route 65 km. Long, average
1.0 km wide
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National Parks, Nature Reserves, and Memorial
Sites Law 1992

• National parks are areas meant for the public
  enjoyment of nature or for the preservation of
  areas of historic, archaeological, or
  architectural importance.
• An area designated as a national park may not be
  changedNo building work or other activity will
  be permitted unless it has been approved by the
  National Parks Authority.
• A nature reserve is an area in which animals,
  plants, inanimate objects, soil, caves, water and
  landscape are protected from changes in their
  appearance, biological makeup, and natural
  development.

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Protected Areas along the Route
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The Antiquities Law - 1978

• Antiquities Law Chpt. 7 Antiquity Sites
• 28. (a) The Director may declare a particular
  place to be an antiquity site...
• 29. (a) A person shall not carry out, or allow to
  be carried out, any of the following activities
  on an antiquity site

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Antiquities protected sites Along the Route
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Main Stakeholders

• Local residents Jews and Muslims (Bedouin)
• Ramat Negev Regional Council
• Middle Arava Regional Council
• Mizpe Ramon Local Council
• Negev Development Authority
• Friends of The Earth
• Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

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Main Stakeholders

• Ben Gurion University Ancient Agriculture
• Israel, Nature and Parks Authority - Ministry of
  Environment, State of Israel
• Israel Antiquities Authority - Ministry of
  Education, State of Israel
• Ministry of Tourism, State of Israel

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1. Moa Fortress and Caravanserai Station no.
60 First in the Negev

• The Caravanserai 40 X 40 m,
• a central courtyard surrounded by several
  rooms with bath facilities
• The Fortress 17 X 17 m, a central courtyard
  surrounded by 11 rooms with an olive press
• The Water Pool 11 x 9 m
• filled by an underground
• spring

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2. Kasra FortressDaylight Guard Post

• Watchtower 5 x 5.5 m includes 3 rooms
• Hidden Water Cistern

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3. Nekarot FortressSmall Watchtower

• Two-story Tower with 3 rooms
• Ruined Complex of 6 rooms
• Small Hidden Water Cistern

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4. Ein Saharonim Caravanserai Station no. 61

• The Caravanserai 42 X 42 m, a central courtyard
  surrounded by many rooms with workshops for
  craftsmen, bath tubs and a cooking stove.

One day walk from Moa (Station 60)
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5. Makhmal Ascent and FortressLookout and guard
spot

• Watchtower 7 x 6.5 m with 2 rooms
• Water cistern 8x4.8 m 150 cubic m

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6. Graffon FortressWatchtower

• Watchtower 6 x 6 m
• Living quarters building with 5 rooms
• Small lookout tower 2 x 2 m
• Hidden Water Cistern

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7. Milestones along the Route
Two Segments of road with Milestones

• In Makhtesh Ramon, 6 milestone stations
• In Nafha Highlands, 5 milestone stations

Each station consists of two milestones
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10. Avdat National Park
Station no. 62

• Small town 400 X 300m
• Roman Quarter and Tower
• Military Camp
• Nabataean Temple
• 2 Churches
• Byzantine Fortress
• Bathhouse

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11. Haluza Station no. 63

• The most Northern City in the Negev
• Small Theater
• One Church

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12. Mamshit - Located on Secondary Route

• The most eastern town
• Gate and City Wall
• Caravanserai
• Bathhouse
• 2 Churches
• Villas

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13. Shivta Located on Secondary Route

• Small Town
• Sophisticated Water System
• 2 Water Pools
• 3 Churches
• 3 Winepresses

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Management Plan The Nature and Parks Authority
Responsible for the management and protection of
nature reserves, national parks and the natural
and heritage assets in Israel The Authority is
comprised of five administrative districts The
Incense Route and Desert Cities are included in
the Southern District
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Conservation actions in the protected areas
Management Plan

• Management plan for ecotourism and recreation
  (roads, camping sites, trails, visitor centers
  etc.)
• Conservation of archaeological sites detailed
  programs for the route sites
• Planning and promoting
  protected areas proclamation
• Inspection of the state
  infrastructure development activities
  during planning and construction

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Management Plan
Conservation actions in the protected areas

• Research and monitoring activities
• Rehabilitation of disturbed habitat and Quarries
  restoration
• Invading species and Pest control
• Reintroduction of endangered species (Wild Ass,
  Arabian Oryx)
• Populations control

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Management Plan
Conservation actions in the protected areas

• Low enforcement-of the National Parks, Nature
  Reserves, and Memorial Sites Law 1992 and
  Wild animal protection low and other
  environmental lows
• Management plan for army practices
• Environmental education and instruction
• for the Army and general public
• by special centers and guides

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Management Plan Professional Training

• Education and training of the employees include
  courses in
• Conservation
• Management
• Enforcement
• Visitor Service
• Public participation and education

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See You in The Negev