Thursday May 12, 2022
I've Been Thinking:

Who knew garbage would be so informative?

The Nabataean–Roman ancient trading route connected the Mediterranean world with eastern and southern sources of incense, spices and other luxury goods, stretching from the Levant and Egypt through Northeastern Africa and Arabia to India and beyond.

The route was in use for 600 years, from 300 BCE to 300 CE.

Professor of Archaeology at the University of Haifa, Guy Bar-Oz, heads the study that excavated ancient rubbish which had accumulated at rest stations along the route. And he says that the research his group conducted did helps unveil new information about the trade route.

Prof. Bar-Oz explained that: "When examining the trade composition, three main trends are recognized: international trade with a central route to South East Asia; international trade that connected between sea sources - especially between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea; and local trade that acted as an 'economic belt' of the route and provided raw material and food for the merchants along the route."

The University of Haifa researchers pursued a strategy involving targeted, small-scale excavations at ancient middens or garbage dumps at caravanserai along the Petra–Gaza section of the route.

Rubbish deposits, rich in ash and organic remains, located on the outskirts of the archeological sites, enabled the researchers to illuminate aspects of the organization of desert trade, with wide implications for other ancient trade routes.

What great finds they uncovered.

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