Incense Route

Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev (Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta) *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Israel
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, v
Reference	1107
Region **	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2005 (29th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev is a World Heritage-designated itinerary in the Negev, southern Israel. The site of patrimony was proclaimed of outstanding universal value by UNESCO in 2005.

Avdat (Ovdat) ruins

Four towns located in the Negev Desert are linked directly to the Mediterranean terminus of both the Incense Road and Spice routes. These towns include Avdat, Haluza, Mamshit, and Shivta. Where constructed by the Nabataean an old Arabic tribe, their capital is Petra (world heritage since 1985) in the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, as well as multiple ancient fortresses and desert agricultural landscapes. As a group, these desert cities demonstrate the significantly lucrative trade in frankincense and myrrh that took place from south Arabia to the Mediterranean. At its height, from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD, the routes included sophisticated cityscapes, irrigation systems, fortresses, and caravanserai. The vestiges of these works are still visible in the present day, and demonstrate the use of the desert for commerce and agriculture.

See also

• Blueprint Negev
• Frankincense trail
• Incense Road
• Ir Ovot

Source

• UNESCO: Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev