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The ethnic identity of the population groups in Palestine during different stages of the Iron Age is an issue that has recently addressed by a number of sholars. The point of departure for the discussion has been the ceramic vessels used by the inhabitants (Bunimovitz and Yasur-landau 1996; Herzog 1997; and others). Other researchers have defined various characteristic aspects of Judean material culture during the Iron Age II according to their geographical distribution. Combining the distribution maps of the archaeological findings with historical-biblical sources has made it possible to draw maps depicting the borders of the kingdom. The present article will define in hewn caves as a distinctive feature of Judean material culture, describe the distribution of the caves and trace the borders of the kingdom of Judah during the last two centuries of its existence accordingly.
Irit Yezerski (Sun,) studied this question.