he biblical kingdom of Edom has always been a significant puzzle for biblical archaeology. Although evidence is supplied in the Bible, the archaeological record has always had trouble interpreting the text, which said that it existed as a kingdom long before the kings of Israel. But research has uncovered the untold story of a thriving and wealthy society in the Arava Desert – in parts of Israel and Jordan – that existed during the 12th-11th centuries BCE. Collecting slag and charcoal samples from “Slaves’ Hillâ€, Timna Valley, Israel. The fine layers of technological waste – well-dated by radiocarbon – provide...