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EMIL ALADJEM, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

PRECIOUS SCENTS. The trade routes running southeast from the tomb site connected the Negev, Egypt, and the Mediterranean with the riches of South Arabia. There, frankincense resin was harvested as small dried pellets (or “tears”) and then transported in lidded alabaster jars (shown here) throughout the ancient world, where it would be ground to powder and burned for its wondrous aroma. The discovery of fine alabaster grinding tools suggests that processing of these goods may have taken place at the site or during travel.