Bronze chisel at horvat haluqim (central negev highlands) in a sequence of radiocarbon dated late bronze to iron I layers

The rural settlements in the central Negev highlands and adjacent Sinai area, usually assigned to the Iron IIA, are enigmatic in terms of origin, duration and ethnicity. Very few metal objects have thus far been found at these sites. Excavations at Horvat Haluqim at the edge of an ancient terraced eld in the Eastern wadi revealed a continuous series of nely strati ed layers in which a bronze chisel was found. Radiocarbon dates for these layers range from the 14th century BCE in the deeper layers to the 12th century BCE in the upper layers. The composition of the bronze chisel, dated to the 12th century BCE, is 89.7% copper, 2.5% tin and 1% lead. The lead isotope ratios show that the origin of the copper ore is from the Faynan Dolomite-Limestone-Shale (DLS) unit. Therefore, trade relations probably existed in the 12th century BCE between Horvat Haluqim and the Faynan area. The Zin Canyon with its springs is a convenient natural east–west route that connects the Faynan area with Horvat Haluqim. Various metallurgic sites in the Faynan area, as well as in the Timna area, have radiometric absolute dates within the Late Bronze and early Iron Ages. The so-called empty second millennium BCE in the region is gradually becoming more visible with the use of geoarchaeology and radiocarbon dating. It seems that local desert inhabitants are related to these settlements, possibly the biblical Amalekites, as proposed by Beno Rothenberg more than 40 years ago