Chariots 1 in the Timna Valley is a copper mining site characterized by open-pit mines within sediment layers containing concentrated ore deposits transported by natural erosion processes. The site was originally studied by Beno Rothenberg’s Arabah Expedition, who attributed the mining activities to the Chalcolithic period, based on the simple mining technology used, which did not require advanced metallurgical knowledge.
A more recent study by Tel Aviv University utilized Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating to reassess the mining timeline at Chariots 1. The findings confirmed that mining in the open pits began during the Chalcolithic period, but also revealed evidence of later exploitation, extending into the late second millennium BCE. This research has provided a more nuanced understanding of the evolution of mining technologies in the Arabah region across different periods.
