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EMIL ALADJEM, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

FORETELLING TOOLS. These tiny, finely made flint blades may also suggest a connection between the Negev tombs and South Arabia. They likely are to be associated with a divinatory practice called belomancy, mentioned in conjunction with arrows in Ezekiel 21:21. This widespread practice in ancient Arab cultures was finally banned in the Quran (Ma’ida 5:90). Flint blades such as these are well known from temple and tomb contexts in ancient South Arabia. In addition to these items, a small microlith core of quartz crystal that probably originated in East Africa was found in the tomb assemblage.