‘Desertification’ Processes in Byzantine Shivta in the Seventh Century

The ruins of the Byzantine village of Shivta, including its three magnificent churches, still dominate the sands of the Negev desert, serving as an important relic of the once vibrant Christian life in a semi-arid area. Vast agricultural activities and sophisticated methods of water collection allowed the village to flourish in the harsh desert climate between the fifth and seventh centuries. Although signs of deterioration and abandonment of the village were evident as early as the sixth century, an enigmatic cultural and religious revival occurred at the beginning of the seventh century. While not apparent in all aspects of the settlement, this revival is evident from the significant reconstruction of the South and North Churches, originally built in the fifth or early sixth centuries, as well as the new construction of the Central Church. By the end of the seventh century, Shivta’s Christian community largely diminished, if not ceased to exist entirely. In the beginning of the eighth century, a small mosque was built adjacent to the South Church, indicating a brief period of Islamic presence. This paper presents a synthesis of ongoing research, archaeological findings, and archival discoveries. A re-examination of the complex processes behind the revival and decline of society in seventh century Shivta, emphasizes the significance of ecclesiastic administration in its communal and economic life. It also contributes to the scholarly debate regarding the collapse of Byzantine settlements in the Negev, challenging widely held views on the continuous occupation of the site by a Christian community well into the eighth century.