Spatiotemporal analysis of paleofloods in the Negev region (Israel): insights into past climate

The climatic conditions of the Negev Desert (Israel) during Late Antiquity (circa 300 - 700 CE) hold considerable scholarly interest, given their potential implications for understanding past human societies and environmental dynamics. Reconstructing the climatic conditions of the Negev during this period enriches our knowledge of historical climate variability in this arid region. It provides crucial insights into the challenges faced by ancient societies in adapting to climatic changes and enhances our understanding of human-environment interactions. However, the scarcity of reports and evidence due to the remoteness of the Negev poses challenges. This study conducts a comprehensive review of historical, archaeological, natural, and botanical proxies to extract information about agricultural practices, water management systems, settlement patterns, land-use changes, and societal adaptations to evolving environmental conditions. Additionally, a spatiotemporal analysis of paleofloods is implemented and compared with the existing sources. The spatial findings reveal that the information gleaned from this multidisciplinary approach may contribute novel insights into the climatic context of the Negev during Late Antiquity.