Mamshit National Park

Mampsis or Memphis, today Mamshit, Kurnub, is a former Nabataean caravan stop and Byzantine city [1]. In the Nabataean period, Mampsis was an important station on the Incense Road, connecting Southern Arabia through Edom, the Arabah and Ma'ale Akrabim, to the Mediterranean ports, as well as to Jerusalem via Beersheba and Hebron [1]. The city covers 10 acres and is the smallest but best restored ancient city in the Negev Desert [1]. Mampsis was founded in the 1st century BCE as trade post between Petra and Gaza [1]. In 106, after the city was annexed to the Roman Empire, a Roman garrison was stationed there to guard part of the southern border of the empire and large dams were built around it [1]. Two churches were discovered in Mampsis [1]. The western St. Nilus Church has a mosaic floor with colorful geometric patterns, birds, a fruit basket, and five dedications in Greek [1]. The biggest hoard ever found in Israel was discovered in Mampsis, consisting of 10,500 silver coins with a total weight of 72 kg [1].