It holds the reconstructed ancient Nabataean desert city of Mamshit (or Mampsis) which was once an important stop on the Incense Road that connected Arabia to Jerusalem. The city was settled in the mid-1st century BC by the Nabataean people and it grew in prosperity becoming one of the richest Nabataean trade posts despite being the smallest of the Negev Desert cities covering 10 acres. The Nabatean Kingdom is best known for the city of Petra in Jordan. It was a powerful force in the region from c. 4th century BC to c.106 AD and dominated the region’s trade routes. Mampsis was one of several trade posts that gave merchant caravans respite from the harsh desert on their journey from the Arabian Peninsula to Jerusalem and even Europe. It was home to luxurious homes unlike any other found in the Nabataean Kingdom.
