Punon (Hebrew: פּוּנֹן) is an ancient city in the Arava, Jordan. It was a center of Copper and Iron mining from the early Chalcolithic c 4th millenium BC to biblical times and was exploited for copper nuggets (precious stones) in the Neolithic back as early as the 7th millenium BC. Some of the earliest smelters in history have been found in this region. There is a fortress on the wadi Guwair Punon was one of the places (or "stations") visited by the Israelites during the Exodus. Its the place where the story of the Exodus says the Isrealites grumbled about lack of bread and water and were attacked by snakes.