The Gobolitide (Al-Jibal) microregion: geography and settlement network evolution from Nabataean to Byzantine times

Abstract

A spatio-temporal analysis of the ancient settlement landscape of northeastern Edom (ancient Gobolitide, Islamic al-Jibal) from Nabataean to Byzantine times was performed based on surface survey data, taking into account various geographical factors (main morphological units, floristic regions, annual precipitation) and climatic fluctuations. The article presents preliminary conclusions concerning the distribution of settlements in the microregion, the determining factors behind the evolution of the settlement network and the temporal changes observed. The mapping of sites based on chronological and typological criteria indicated specific settlement clusters in the Edomite highlands and in episodic river valleys (wadis). The pattern is disturbed only by Wadi al-Hasa. Overall, climate change turns out to have the greatest impact on the change in the number of sites over time.