Ancient Yemenite arrowheads discovered in Israel’s Negev
Archaeologists uncover merchant caravan grave linked to ancient spice trade.


What is a vast burial site with dozens of graves doing in a previously unknown location in the Negev Highlands?
Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have uncovered a 2,500-year-old burial compound near Tlalim Junction, believed to be linked to trade caravans traveling from Arabia—possibly as far as Yemen.
“The concentration of flint artifacts found here is unprecedented in Israel, and their only known source is Yemen and Oman,” said Dr. Jacob Vardi, an IAA expert on flint tools. He also noted traces of red ochre on some arrowheads, a substance associated with ancient ritual symbolism. “This suggests that these weapons held religious or cultic significance,” he explained.
According to Dr. Martin David Pasternak, excavation director, and Dr. Tali Erickson-Gini, a senior researcher at the IAA, the site provides evidence of wide-reaching cultural exchanges between southern and northern Arabia, Phoenicia, Egypt, and even southern Europe.
The two tombs excavated so far, dated between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, contained a wealth of artifacts, including: Copper and silver jewelry Alabaster vessels used for transporting incense resins from southern Arabia.
Researchers believe the site may have served as a burial ground for trade caravans over generations. Another possibility is that it was the final resting place for a caravan that was attacked, leading to a mass burial.
The discovery opens a new chapter in understanding ancient trade networks and the interconnected cultures that shaped the region’s history.
Arutz 7 contributed to this article.