The Geographic, Archaeological and Agricultural Anchors Influencing Historic Migrations of the Negev Bedouin

The semi-nomad Bedouin tribes who have inhabited the Negev Desert at least since the eighteenth century ce have historically practised nomadism with relatively little agriculture. In the current study, a comprehensive field survey and interviews were conducted with members of the Bedouin community, belonging to various tribes who lived in the Negev in the 1930s and 1940s, along with an evaluation of previous reports published by researchers and travellers who were active in this area at that time. Our study presents Bedouin nomadic activities, emphasising the geographic and historical factors that influenced their lifestyle, and highlights the transhumance corridors used by these semi-nomads in different regions of the Negev Desert. Our study indicates that during the period 1900–1948, in the Southern Negev and Negev Highlands, the agricultural potential of the ancient agricultural systems that were exploited by the Bedouin influenced their movement throughout the region. In contrast, in the Northern Negev, the most significant factors were the influence of climatic conditions on the agricultural potential of the region, and proximity to the town of Be‘er-Sheva.