"A land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper": metallurgy, pottery, and the Midianite-Qenite Hypothesis

Located in the arid margins southeast of the land of Israel both Midian and Edom rose to prominence as a result of their exploitation of the rich copper resources in and around the Wadi Arabah and by controlling the major trade routes traversing this region. This thesis focuses largely on the Midianite connection to metallurgy at Timna where an impressive amount of Midianite ware and a tent-shrine much like the biblical tabernacle were discovered. Additionally, this thesis will also explore the origin of the allochthonous motifs on the Midianite ware and the cultural background of the Midianites. The methods employed in this work are largely transdisciplinary in nature, as text, archaeology, and anthropology will be used to give new dimension to the Midianite-Qenite Hypothesis.