Shivta
Set in the heart of the Negev desert, about 37 miles south of Beer-Sheva, Shivta prospoered in late antiquity. The Nabateans founded Shivta as a caravanserai along the famed ‘Incense Route‘, between Avdat and Haluza.
The Incense Route and the Negev
The ‘Incense Route’ was a network of ancient roads that enabled transferring precious spices and perfumes across the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean coast. The total length and exact path of the Incense Route are still not fully known. It began in Yemen, passed through Mecca, Medina, and Petra, and ended in the ports of Gaza and El-Arish. The path from Petra to the Mediterranean coast is better documented. It passed the Aravah and traversed through the heart of the Negev, including a problematic cross of the Ramon Crater. Today, the route and its related archaeological sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Shivta in the Roman-Byzantine Period
Later, in Roman and Byzantine periods, Shivta had a combined population of farmers and a military force that guarded the Roman southern security zone (the ‘Limes’). Following the Muslim conquest of the region, Shivta had a Muslim community settling in it. They built a mosque next to the city’s central church, and used a lintel engraved with a cross at its entrance. By the 9th century CE Shivta was abandoned and its lovation forgotten.
Shivta Rediscovered and Excavated
Rediscovered in the 19th century, several archaeological expeditions excavated in Shivta. It is one of the best-preserved sites from the Byzantine period, with some of its walls standing to the second floor. Walking in its alleys, it feels like it residents left it only yesterday, although they did over 1,200 years ago.
Touring Shivta
Shivta is a national park. It is open every day of the week and there is an admission fee. The state of the site’s preservation is exceptional and includes cobbled streets, three churches, and an elaborate water system.
A visit to the site can be also combined with an off-road day tour along the ‘Incense Route’.
