Nitzana Education Programs

Education Programs have been conducted at Nitzana - an education center located in the heart of the ancient agricultural region in the Negev. The programs aim to inherit the ancient agriculture studied as cultural heritage at various levels: participation in scientific field researches conducted by universities, and training courses for students, school children, teachers, tourists, and so on.

In 2005 this work has continued through the winter where a farm maintenance project with students includes overturning of the soil, getting rid of bushes and brush, cleaning up the area, and planting. These kids at Nitzana High School are having fun, while taking care of their historic environment. Young Israeli soldiers serving in the desert who were on duty in the Negev, also help to rejuvenate the Negev ancient agricultural installations. The soldiers join with the high school students and staff to help plant new trees near an ancient agricultural terrace.

Nitzana Archaeological Survey

This work was conducted with the collaboration of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Nitzana Educational Center.

Survey Fig 1. Mapping the agricultural systems with G.P.S. The white hill at the upper left is the ancient town of Nitzana.

Survey Fig 2. Four meter wide wall terracing a wadi

Survey Fig 3. Terraced wadi at the restored farm near Nitzana

Survey Fig 4. Mapping the restored farm

Survey Fig 5. Wall surrounding a terraced wadi

Survey Fig 6. Ruins of a farmhouse from the Byzantine Period (5-7th Centuries C. E.) watching the agricultural terraces below

Survey Fig 7. Ruins of a farmhouse from the Early Islamic Period (7-8th Centuries C. E.). Notice the terraced wadi marked by the green line of bushes.

Survey Fig 8. Typical erosion in a terraced wadi

Survey Fig 9. Map of the Nitzana survey

Excavating Tuleilat el Anab at Nitzana

This work was conducted in collaboration with Professor Emanuel Mazor of the Weizmann Institute.

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 1. Aerial photograph of Tuleilat el-Anab field near Nitzana.
(Photo provided courtesy of Ofek Aerial Photography Ltd.)

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 2. Tuleilat el Anab (grape mounds in Arabic) assumed to improve the efficiency of run-off rain water to the agricultural terraces in the wadi - (upper right, marked by the rich vegetation)

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 3. A single mound up to 1 meter in diameter and 0.4 meter in height

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 4. Excavating Tuleilat el-Anab

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 5. Cutting through one of the mounds

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 6. Section in one of the mounds

Tuleilat el Anab Fig 7. Soil sampling in the terraced wadi below the Tuleilat el-Anab field

Maintainence of the Restored Farm at Nitzana

This work was conducted in collaboration with the Jewish National Fund and the Nitzana Educational Center.

Photos below are provided courtesy of Tom Amit.

Restored Farm Fig 1. The plantation in the end of the summer

Restored Farm Fig 2. Preparations to winter - burning the bushes

Restored Farm Fig 3. Winter rainstorm - runoff water

Restored Farm Fig 4. Runoff rainwater directed by channels to the terraces

Restored Farm Fig 5. View of the plantation irrigated by the runoff rain water

Restored Farm Fig 6. View of the plantation irrigated by the runoff rain water

Restored Farm Fig 7. Early spring - new grass growing between the trees

Restored Farm Fig 8. Early spring - new grass growing between the trees

Restored Farm Fig 9. Model of an ancient farm to demonstrate the mechanism of runoff rainwater irrigation

Sunset at Nitzana

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