Landscape of control: An early bronze Age ascent in the Southern Judean Desert

Remains alluding to the existence of an ancient ascent were discovered recently in the 'En Bokek survey at the southern Judean Desert. The ascent climbs from the channel of Nahal (Nahal = stream, wadi in Hebrew) Hemar, crosses the watershed divide towards Nahal Zohar, and continues to climb in the direction of 'Arad. The remains along the ascent's course date from the Early Bronze Age II-III (3050-2350 BC, henceforth EB II-III). The nature of the sites along the ascent, analyzed with consideration for their locations, suggests a management of a particular technology of power, exercised by an authority that controlled the traffic on the road. The purpose of this article is to describe the ascent and the technology of power perpetrated along its course during the EB II-III.