Abstract
Since ancient times, humans have used nets for a variety of purposes, including catching prey. Here we consider the likely uses of a large net unearthed by Yadin (1963) in the Cave of Letters in Nahal Hever, in the Judean Desert. Like all finds in the cave, the net dates from the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–135/6 CE). It was brought into the cave towards the end of the revolt by Jewish rebels, who apparently fled from the Ein Gedi area. At the time, Yadin opposed the use of the net for fishing suggesting that it was used either for fowling (i.e., catching of waterfowl) or that of a gladiator. In this article, after a thorough and in-depth study of all the possible uses of the net, we propose that it is a bird net. We study the function of the net from different angles including archaeology, anthropology, ornithology, and archaeozoology to elucidate the true function of the net. In addition, we suspect that the net was used to trap indigenous avian, desert species (Rock Pigeon Columba livia, Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar, Sand Partridge Ammeperdix heyi) or migrants (Quail Coturnix coturnix, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur). Based on the features of the net and the zooarchaeological findings from the Judean Desert, we suspect that this appears to be a walk-in trap for avian species that prefer to walk on the ground while foraging or fleeing potential predators. It may also have been used to capture Rock Pigeons, which also nest in the caves where the rebels took refuge.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology |
Publisher | Springer Nature |
Pages | 171-185 |
Number of pages | 15 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2024 |
Publication series
Name | Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology |
---|---|
Volume | Part F3667 |
ISSN (Print) | 1568-2722 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
Keywords
- Bird
- Flowing
- Net
- Roman period
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Archaeology