When “the Sweet Gifts of Bacchus” Ended-New Archaeological Evidence for Settlement Changes and the Decline of Wine Production in Late Antique Southern Palestine

Gideon Avni; Guy Bar-Oz; Gil Gambash

doi:10.1086/724060

When “the Sweet Gifts of Bacchus” Ended-New Archaeological Evidence for Settlement Changes and the Decline of Wine Production in Late Antique Southern Palestine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Based on the accumulated data from numerous excavations in the hinterland of Gaza and Ashkelon and the results of the comprehensive bioarchaeological research on Late Antique settlement and economy of the Negev Highlands, this article addresses the decline of the flourishing wine industry of southern Palestine, dating it to the second half of the 6th century C.E. The decline in wine production in the region had a direct effect on the rapid abatement of Elusa, the main city of the Negev, and Shivta, a wealthy large village in the western Negev Highlands. Consequently, the extensive system of industrial farms that formed the hub of the flourishing wine industry declined at the same time. This article suggests connecting these events with changes in the patterns of demand, supply, and production of the “sweet gift of Bacchus,” taking into consideration regional aspects, environmental fluctuations, economic transformations, and the decline of consumption markets.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-19
Number of pages	19
Journal	Bulletin of ASOR
Volume	389
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/724060
State	Published - 1 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the School of Advanced Studies University of London as part of the Institute of Classical Studies Ancient History Seminar “Deserts in Antiquity,” organized by Institute of Classical Studies Director Greg Woolf and Leverhulme Visiting Professor Gil Gambash. This research was carried out with the support of the European Research Council under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant 648427), the Israel Science Foundation (Grants 340/14 and 915/20), the Leverhulme Trust, and the Haifa Cetner for Mediterranean History.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 American Society of Overseas Research.

Keywords

affluence
Late Antiquity
Mediterranean commerce
Negev
settlement decline
viticulture

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archaeology
Cultural Studies
History
Archaeology

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10.1086/724060

Cite this

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title = "When “the Sweet Gifts of Bacchus” Ended-New Archaeological Evidence for Settlement Changes and the Decline of Wine Production in Late Antique Southern Palestine",

abstract = "Based on the accumulated data from numerous excavations in the hinterland of Gaza and Ashkelon and the results of the comprehensive bioarchaeological research on Late Antique settlement and economy of the Negev Highlands, this article addresses the decline of the flourishing wine industry of southern Palestine, dating it to the second half of the 6th century C.E. The decline in wine production in the region had a direct effect on the rapid abatement of Elusa, the main city of the Negev, and Shivta, a wealthy large village in the western Negev Highlands. Consequently, the extensive system of industrial farms that formed the hub of the flourishing wine industry declined at the same time. This article suggests connecting these events with changes in the patterns of demand, supply, and production of the “sweet gift of Bacchus,” taking into consideration regional aspects, environmental fluctuations, economic transformations, and the decline of consumption markets.",

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When “the Sweet Gifts of Bacchus” Ended-New Archaeological Evidence for Settlement Changes and the Decline of Wine Production in Late Antique Southern Palestine

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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