This book addresses several recurring motifs in the ancient rock art of the Negev Desert, and related stone monuments. After a brief introduction to the Negev environment and history, the subsequent chapters present a variety of motifs found in the region from the 6th millennium BC onwards. These include geoglyphs; engravings of circles, triangles, lines and similar shapes of stone monuments; symbolism of the ibex in engravings and its associated motifs (dogs, snakes, orante figures, footprints and others) and a unique engraving from the ‘Uvda Valley.

Contrary to the common trend in rock art studies, interpretations are offered here, based on analogies with world rock art, the wider art of ancient cultures, and ethnographic, archaeological and mythological materials from different times and places around the world.

The Epilogue address an overarching question: why do rock engravings in remote cultures and different times bear similarities?

AUTHOR

Uzi Avner holds a PhD in archaeology from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and is the former District Archaeologist of the Southern Negev for the Israel Antiquities Authority. He currently serves as a senior researcher in the Dead Sea & Arava Science Center.

REVIEW

‘The approach taken by this author is unique and focuses primarily on symbolism and its interpretation. It is an important contribution that adds to the documentation of rock art and geoglyphs in the Near East.’ Dr Sandra L. Olsen, University of Kansas