Pigeon-Raising And Sustainable Agriculture At The Fringe Of The Desert: A View From The Byzantine Village Of Sa'Adon, Negev, Israel

Deposits rich in bioarchaeological materials were unearthed in two dovecotes found near Sa'adon, a Byzantine-period village (5th-6th century CE) in the semi-arid part of the Negev. One structure contained a layer of pigeon manure and articulated pigeon skeletons, preserved occupation levels and evidence of sudden destruction (mid-6th century CE), whereas the other lacked distinct occupation debris indicting more orderly human abandonment. Our findings demonstrate the importance of raising pigeons for their high-quality manure in connection with agricultural development around the Negev Byzantine settlements. This product was essential for fertilizing vineyards and orchards; our findings provide direct evidence for the intensive nature of desert agriculture and a new approach to addressing questions of past human sustainability in an environmentally marginal area.