Image Details

Courtesy of Rohr Productions, Nicosia

A drastic change in elevation occurs between the highland site of Busayra and Khirbat en-Nahas in the lowlands. This 3-D satellite image shows the drop from areas more than 1,200 meters (almost 4,000 feet) above sea level (shown in blue) to regions below sea level (shown in pale green). The higher annual rainfall and richer soil of the plateau have led some scholars to focus on highland settlements to write the history of Edom, but the lowlands are rich in copper ore, and recent excavations and surveys there show that the ability to produce and control copper was a crucial element in the development of Edomite society.