Nahal Be’er Sheva
Remains of several Chalcolithic
settlements dating to the 4th millennium
BCE were uncovered a short distance from
one another along both sides of Nahal Be’er
Sheva, in an area which is today within the
city limits of Be’er Sheva. Excavation
of these sites was conducted in 1951-1960
at Be’er Matar, Be’er Safad and
Horvat Batar. Near the latter, an additional
site, Neve Noy, was excavated in 1982.
The uniqueness of these
sites is that each consisted of up to 10
units of subterranean dwellings, dug into
the soft loess deposits on the banks of Nahal
Be’er Sheva. The sites became well known
for the many special finds associated with
them and this local culture came to be known
as the Be’er Sheva Chalcolithic Culture.
The standard dwelling unit
consisted of round or ovoid chambers dug
below ground level, measuring ca. 7 x 3 m.
They were accessible via inclined tunnels
dug from shallow pits on the surface, which
measured ca. 3 m. in diameter. These pits,
in the view of the excavators, also served
as courtyards in which daily activities took
place, since they contained a variety of
bell-shaped silos, basins and hearths. In
the subterranean chambers, with niches of
various sizes cut into the walls, storage
facilities were found. There were also several
small, subterranean rooms, elliptical in
shape and connected by galleries. The main
entrance to these was via a shaft dug to
a depth of several meters below the surface.
Small niches cut into its sides served as
hand and footholds for those going down and
climbing up. Because of the constant danger
of collapse, stone supports were constructed
in some of the rooms to strengthen the sides,
and wooden shafts to support the roof.
A large number of varied
objects, in many materials, was found at
the Nahal Be’er Sheva sites, indicating
an advanced material culture. The pottery
in this period is still rather primitive.
It is handmade of local, light colored clay
containing much sand, and the vessels are
of simple form, sometimes with red line decorations.
Many stone tools were found, including large
chisels and axes made from pebbles; also
finer flint tools, such as scrapers, borers,
knives, sickle blades and a few arrow and
lance heads.
The basalt stoneware is
of interest, as the material was brought
from a considerable distance. Notable are
conical bowls with flat bases of exceptionally
high quality. Their sides were smoothed and
herringbone designs incised on them. Copper
artifacts, for every day use such as axes,
chisels and awls, were made by the inhabitants
themselves. The copper ores were probably
imported from Edom in Transjordan; rock anvils
for crushing the ores, and fireplaces with
slag indicate that metallurgical activities
were conducted at the sites.
The most famous finds from
the Chalcolithic Be’er Sheva Culture
are ivory figurines. Evidence from a local
workshop suggests that they were made locally,
of imported raw material. Among the figurines
are some of over 30 cm. in height; the craftsmanship
is impressive with attention paid to anatomical
details. Some of the figurines are peculiarly
elongated and thin, with arms extended downward
along the body; numerous holes drilled in
the cheeks and chin of the faces indicate
that hair was inserted to resemble facial
hair.
Archeologists believe that
the subterranean dwellings were a partial
answer to the high temperatures prevailing
in the Be’er Sheva Valley. The population
consisted of several extended families, semi-nomadic,
engaged in fledgling agriculture and domestication
of animals, a lifestyle which made permanent
settlement possible.
The finds show that cereals
(wheat and barley) and pulses were important
ingredients of their diet. Surpluses of food
were stored in the silos of the subterranean
dwellings. Goats and sheep were raised, as
evidenced by the bones found, but hunted
game played only a minor role in the diet.
It is assumed that the flocks
were led in the summer months in search of
grazing lands and returned to the dwelling
sites at the onset of winter. During these
migrations, the inhabitants sealed the entrances
to their dwellings with earth and stones,
leaving the implements not used during the
wanderings. Clearly, some never returned
and thus, some of the rooms remained blocked;
others filled with silt or were buried by
collapse.
Sources: Israeli Foreign Ministry |