A dipinti-intensive cave dwelling as evidence of a monastic presence in Byzantine Avdat

This paper documents the various dipinti in a cave dwelling on the southern slope of the Byzantine town of 'Avdat, located in the central Negev highlands of Israel. The dipinti are viewed in their architectural and spatial contexts and discussed in light of previous dipinti finds in another cave dwelling at the site. This helps to build an evidentiary base for associating the cave with monks present in the town. Thus, the paper expands our currently limited knowledge of Byzantine monastic communities and activities in the Negev Desert region.