“Their Voice Carries Throughout the Earth, Their Words to the End of the World” (Ps 19, 5): Thoughts on Long-Range Trade in Organics in the Bronze and Iron Age Levant

Recent archaeological finds and analyses have changed our understanding of the geographic horizons and margins of connectivity in the Bronze and Iron Age southern Levant. Evidence of trade in materials to and from far-away regions, way beyond what was believed to be within the “worldview” of the ancient Levant, has implications for understanding issues relating to economy, connectivity, cultural influences, bio-diversity, etc. This suggests that ancient Levantine and Mediterranean cultures had a significant role in “global scale” trade – more than often assumed. In addition, recent finds and analyses indicate that “exotic” organic materials – often not surviving in the archaeological record – played a central part in this trade; this, as opposed to common assumptions, which focused on highly visible (and better preserved) finds.