The Rise of Desert Cult: The Sacred Precinct at Ramat Saharonim, Central Negev September 23, 2007

In conjunction with our new exhibit Journey to the Copper Age: Archaeology in the Holy Land the museum has invited scholars from around the world to present their most recent work on the early civilizations of the Southern Levant. Also, enjoy an expert led tour of the Copper Age exhibit following the lecture.

The earliest archaeological evidence for elaborate shrines reflecting public ritual and cult in the southern Levantine deserts 7000 years ago coincides with the adoption of herd animals as the people of the late Neolithic through the Early Bronze Age moved from hunting-gathering to pastoral nomadic lifestyles. Survey and excavation at the desert shrine complex at Ramat Saharonim, in the Central Negev, revealed four courtyard shrines and thirty burial cairns. The shrines are aligned with the setting sun of the summer solstice, tying them circumstantially to death symbolism, suggesting a mortuary cult. Join Steve Rosen, Ph.D., professor of archaeology at Ben-Gurion University, for a fascinating look at the interplay and interdependence of subsistence, symbol, and social structure.

Dr. Steve Rosen received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Chicago and worked for 8 years as a field archaeologist for the Archaeological Survey of IsraelNegev Emergency Survey, where he developed his taste for desert archaeology. Other research interests include Levantine prehistory and stone tool analysis. He is currently serving as the editor of the Journal of the Israel Prehistoric Society.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of lemonadepr.