"The Byzantine period is one of the less known periods in the history of Palestine. On the one hand, there is a wealth of archaeological evidence, albeit not in a final form; while, on the other hand, there are few historical sources. There is evidence of prosperity, but also testimonies of economic and demographic deterioration. The book offers a comprehensive historical framework describing the period, based on all the available material. In the absence of historical sources, full use must be made of the archaeological data; until the present, however, chronological definitions have not been determined for "Byzantine" pottery vessels. The book makes use of a new methodological tool: quantitative numismatic data."