Deposits rich in bioarchaeological materials were unearthed in two dovecotes found near Sa‘adon, a Byzantine-period village (5th–6th century CE) in the semi-arid part of the Negev. One structure contained a layer of pigeon manure and articulated pigeon skeletons, preserved occupation levels and evidence of sudden destruction (mid-6th century CE), whereas the other lacked distinct occupation debris indicting more orderly human abandonment. Our findings demonstrate the importance of raising pigeons for their high-quality manure in connection with agricultural development around the Negev Byzantine settlements. This product was essential for fertilizing vineyards and orchards; our findings provide direct evidence for the intensive nature of desert agriculture and a new approach to addressing questions of past human sustainability in an environmentally marginal area.

中文翻译：

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沙漠边缘的养鸽和可持续农业：从拜占庭村庄 Sa'adon 看，以色列内盖夫

在位于内盖夫半干旱地区的拜占庭时期村庄（公元 5 至 6 世纪）萨阿东附近发现的两个鸽棚中发现了富含生物考古材料的沉积物。一个结构包含一层鸽粪和铰接的鸽子骨骼，保留了职业水平和突然破坏的证据（公元 6 世纪中叶），而另一个缺乏明显的职业碎片，表明人类被遗弃的秩序更加有序。我们的研究结果表明，为了获得与内盖夫拜占庭定居点周围的农业发展相关的高质量粪便而饲养鸽子的重要性。该产品对于葡萄园和果园的施肥是必不可少的；