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In the middle of the Negev traces of an entire town have been well preserved. Before that town's time, a Nabatean settlement had existed, but nothing was left of it. Shivta had never been surrounded by a wall. At the beginning of the Byzantine period (4th century AD) Christianity reached Shivta and three churches were built in various quarters of town. The many ancient agricultural traces around the town are particularly impressive. As one of the towns along the Incense Route it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2005.