Funerary Customs and Necropolises in the Negev Desert from the Early Roman to the Early Islamic Period (c. 1st Century BCE – 9th/10th Century CE)

• Applicant: Noe Michael, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 580340046

The planned research project is dedicated to the study of burial cultures and necropoleis in the Negev Desert in southern Israel between the Early Roman and Early Islamic periods (ca. 1st century BCE – 9th/10th century CE). The region is of particular archaeological interest, as it lay at the crossroads of major cultural spheres and was marked by a remarkable diversity of populations and religions: pagans, Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived here, in some cases simultaneously side by side. Their social, religious, and cultural practices are reflected in the forms of burial, which provide valuable insights into beliefs, constructions of identity, and social structures. To date, however, only a few comprehensive scientific analyses of the necropoleis of the Negev exist. Many excavations were carried out as rescue operations and published only in the form of brief reports. The large necropolis of Tel Malhata, with more than 500 graves spanning almost a millennium and including pagan, Christian, and Muslim burials, remains unpublished. It represents a unique source for examining the transformation of burial rituals and religious traditions during profound political and social upheavals – from the Roman Empire through Byzantium to Islamic rule. The project therefore pursues four central objectives: first, the complete scholarly analysis of the Tel Malhata necropolis, including its tomb architecture, finds, and human remains. Second, a comparison of these results with other necropoleis in the region in order to identify similarities and differences in burial customs. Third, the systematic analysis of cultural and religious change in the Negev over several centuries, with particular attention to the transformations at the threshold of the Islamic period. Fourth, the preparation of a comprehensive monograph that will present the burial culture of this region for the first time in its full temporal and cultural scope. Beyond the regional framework, the project contributes to a broader understanding of cultural dynamics in frontier and desert regions. The Negev, owing to its position at the intersection of various spheres of influence, is especially well suited to explore questions of continuity and change in traditions, the encounter of different religions, and the practices of death and remembrance. The project will not only provide a much-needed foundational publication on the burial cultures of the Negev Desert but will also make a significant contribution to the understanding of cultural and religious change in the eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants