Mamshit, Archaeological site in Negev, Israel

Mamshit is a Nabataean city in the Negev, about five kilometres south-east of Dimona, set in a valley between the Hatira ridge and the Efa ridge. A narrow, flat streambed divides its roughly forty dunams into two built-up halves, with the 1,000-square-metre Palace in the western part. A 900-metre Roman-period wall enclosed the site, and two large dams survive near it.

The city was founded in the 1st century BCE by the Nabataeans as a stop on the trade route between Petra and Gaza. After Roman and later Byzantine rule, it continued to grow before being abandoned in the early medieval period.

The name Mamshit derives from the Roman-Byzantine Mampsis, while the Arabic name Kurnub refers to a drink of camel milk, honey and dates. Two churches survive: the Church of St. Nilus, named after a Greek inscription naming its founder, and the Church of the Saints and Martyrs, whose mosaic floor shows two crosses, a sign it predates the 427 ban on crosses in church floors. Its baptistery has a cross-shaped basin for adults and a small square one for infants.

The site is in open desert terrain, so bringing enough water and sun protection is strongly advised, especially in summer. Marked paths lead through the main areas of the ruins and are manageable for most visitors.

The largest silver coin hoard ever found in Israel was discovered here, with around 10,500 coins weighing about 160 pounds (72 kilograms) in total. This suggests the city was not just a transit point but also a place where considerable wealth was stored.