About

My name is Rachel Bernstein, and I’m a research fellow at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research. I specialize in Byzantine and early Islamic monasticism, particularly in the Negev Desert region. 

My PhD dissertation, “Socio-economic and physical context of Byzantine Monasticism in the Negev Desert," examines the socio-economic characteristics of monasteries in the Negev region and offers a general comparison of the Negev monasteries to monasteries classified in other regions (the Judean Desert, Gaza).  

In my current work I am evaluating characteristics of a particular monastery in the Negev at the site Tel Masos. Understanding the characteristics of these monasteries will help tell us the state and role the Negev Desert had as part of the Byzantine empire and the early Islamic period. 

Please feel free to explore my research blog or check my calendar for upcoming events.