Shivta—A Byzantine Town in the Negev Desert

Shivta, a Byzantine town settled in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th or 9th century C. E., occupies an area of about 20 acres in the Negev desert 43 kilometers southwest of Beer-Sheva. Remains of terraces, dams, and other agricultural structures indicate that the town, which was far from the trade routes, existed mainly on agriculture. Examination of the town today shows that Shivta's three churches were the source of influence and authority not only in matters of religion and worship, but also apparently in the public, administrative, and economic life of the town. It appears, further, that Shivta, as it was built, offers nothing unique in comparison to other, similarly situated towns of the same period in Roman and Byzantine Palestine and the neighboring regions. Lacking an urban tradition, its inhabitants evidently were unconcerned with aesthetic values in town building. Shivta developed spontaneously, without a guiding hand or any effort to create a monumental emphasis.