Site No.: 51 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 234000E, 142400N
Description: A large cemetery with good examples of Byzantine shaft tombs, loculi tombs, and arcosolia tombs. Only a cursory examination was carried out in 1992 in anticipation of a thorough study of cemeteries in the 'Umayri region during future seasons.
1984 Report: On the south slope of the low hill opposite of Tell el-Umeiri West on the north, there are open tombs and terrace walls below the line of the present dirt road running east-west. A line of jagged upright stones, smoothed on the uphill side, angles from northwest to southeast down the slope below the road, to the edge of the tilled field. (Boling, 1989)
Features: Tomb, Terrace
Pottery Count: 20/118
Pottery Reading: 1984: BYZ, E ROM, IR2, EB
Site No.: 52 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232500E, 145800N
Description: In addition to the archaeological features identified at this site, there were two modern "pillbox-like," ruined structures on the summit of the hill, perhaps pointing again to it's long-term strategic/defensive significance. A local informant said a military operation was here 14 years ago. Bolings 1984 report gives a good summary of this site.
1984 Report: This hilltop site lies just outside the northeast petal of the cloverleaf formed by the Naur highway and the new airport highway. Before construction of the new highway it was surrounded by fields on all sides (elev. 943, K835 map). There is a massive perimeter wall ca. 2m wide, build of large squared stones enclosing an area ca. 50 x 50m, with at least three rectangular structures. In the northeast corner is a building 6 x 10m. In the northwest corner is a building 7 x 10m, with walls 1.5m thick, probably a tower. The highest points presently within the enclosure are midway along the eastern wall (another square building, ca. 10 x10m), and in the southeast quadrant where modern pillbox-like structures have been installed. This compound on the uppermost level looks down, to the north and east, on a shelf that is currently under cultivation, above the Wadi Iraq el-Hamam with its lush fields. Jutting out at a northeastern angle from the east perimeter wall is a long narrow (ca. 5m) ridge of bare rock in which we counted some 40 cupmarks. The site lies just outside the north edge of RS 37, which in turn overlaps the Paleolithic Site 53 along the Naur Highway. (Boling, 1989)
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Wall Line, Defensive Wall, Perimeter Wall, Cistern, Cuphole, Basin, Rectilinear Structure, Terrace, Wall Line, Tomb
Pottery Count: 79/377
Pottery Reading: 1992: 2 MOD, BYZ, IR2, IR1 -- 1984: 1 PROB BYZ, L IR2 DOM, FEW E IR2, 2 U.D.
Site No.: 53 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232500E, 145600N
Description: Visited informally in 1992, this site remained much as it was in 1987 and 1989. Most of the site was inside the "secure" area of the radio transmission towers and, therefore, off-limits to our survey team. In the fields that were accessible, lithics lay scattered about the surface. The 1984 report provides a good description of the lithics at this site.
1984 Report: This site was recognized by Michael Alcorn while collecting sherds at the southern edge of RS 37, which it overlaps. The site extends for ca. 300m east-west along the Naur highway, east of the intersection with the new airport highway. The site extends north-south for 200-300m, mostly south of the highway. It reappears southwest of the interchange, and a few lithics were found in the northwest petal of the cloverleaf. Except for the highway, virtually the entire site is under cultivation. Hundreds of lithic artifacts were collected here in a short time. The Acheulean handaxes (LPL) are heavily rolled, perhaps a half million years old, according to Gary Rollefson. The rolled condition is a puzzle, in view of the geographical setting, which is not a deep wadi. After a visit to the site on August 11, 1984 Rollefson suggests that there may have been a seasonal lake just to the southeast to attract the Paleolithic folk to this location. The LPL handaxes from this site are considerably smaller than those from the Azraq region, perhaps because of the smaller flint nodules available in our region. There are considerably more Levallosio-Mousterian tools, suggesting that Middle Paleolithic (ca. 50,000 B.P.) was the dominant period of occupation. Rollefson recognized no very good UPL material, but a considerable variety of Neolithic/Chalcolithic specimens. (Boling, 1989)
Features: Lithic Scatter
Pottery Count:
Pottery Reading: 1984: Pottery not collected, quantities of Middle Paleolithic to Chalcolithic stone tools collected.
Site No.: 54 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 233300E, 139800N
Description: A centralized agricultural complex focused on a nearly square building (54.1). Nearby a wine press was hewn into the bedrock. Field walls and terrace walls gave definition to the site and created space for horticultural activity.
Function: Farmstead
Food System: Intensive specialized agricultural production
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Field Wall, Cuphole, Press, Terrace, Rectilinear Structure
Pottery Count: 5/58
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD DOM, FEW BYZ -- 1984: FEW UM, L IR2 DOM, FEW E IR2
Site No.: 55 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235800E, 140400N
Description: An agricultural maze, this site was dominated by slopes of terrace walls (55.4) and field walls (55.5), seemingly without pattern. These walls appeared to be connected to a small rectilinear structure (55.1), and to the major field wall (55.2)which abutted it. Over the hill to the north west a small circular tower (55.3) overlooked the slopes to the northwest.
Function: Small agricultural complex
Food System: Food production
Features: Field Wall, Circular Structure, Terrace, Field Wall, Cistern, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 12/32
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, BYZ, IR2, EB -- 1984: BYZ, IR2/IR1
Site No.: 56 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232200E, 141700N
Description: Most of the features at this site sat low on a terraced slope. The most notable feature was a mostly collapsed dolmen (56.1). West of this feature was a rectilinear structure (56.5). In a tributary wadi to the east were stone piles (56.2), a limekiln (56.4), and a dam (56.3). Up the slope from 56.1 a winepress (56.7) with an extremely deep collection basin was noted. All over the slope were the remains of terraces (56.8) and quarry marks (56.6).
Function: Agricultural complex
Features: Dolmen, Stone Pile, Dam, Kiln, Rectilinear Structure, Quarry, Press, Terrace
Pottery Count: 16/92
Pottery Reading: 1992: UM/AB, BYZ, 1 IR2 -- 1987: BYZ
Site No.: 57 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232100E, 141200N
Description: A large site covered with many and varied features. Features 57.1-4 were a large herding station at the northwest corner of the site, complete with rectilinear structure (57.1), perimeter wall (57.2) and two cave complexes (57.3-4). In all, some 20 caves dot the site. Most of these caves were collapsed cisterns reused as dwellings. Typical of these caves was 57.5. The cisterns were apparently part of a well developed center, perhaps during the Byzantine/Umayyad period. Towers (57.7) and various elements of monumental architecture and dressed stone speak to a high level of sophistication in earlier times.
Function: Urban center/cave village.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Perimeter Wall, Cave, Cave, Cave, Cave, Perimeter Wall, Rectilinear Structure, Cistern, Defensive Wall, Tomb
Pottery Count: 206/440
Pottery Reading: 1987: POSS OTT, AY/MAM, UM/AB, BYZ DOM, ROM
Site No.: 58 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 231900E, 141600N
Description: In many respects a continuation of the seasonal village from 57.3 caves straddled the dirt road leading through the site. 58.1 and 58.2 were collapsed cisterns. A working cistern (58.6) was located part way down the slope to the NE. Terraces (58.4) and embankments (58.5) completed the feature assemblage at this site.
Function: Seasonal village - agriculture
Features: Cave, Cave, Cave, Terrace, Wadi Embankment, Cistern, Quarry
Pottery Count: 92/212
Pottery Reading: 1992: 1 AY/MAM, UM/AB, BYZ DOM, 2 IR BODS -- 1987: NO POTTERY COLLECTED
Site No.: 59 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236900E, 144400N
Description: Various agricultural features spread out over slopes of exposed bedrock. An impressive embankment (59.1) stretched across the tributary wadi creating a small field above it. Atop the ridge a curb line of a road (59.4) ran toward the south of site 103. Above 59.1 a single cave (59.2) and a winepress (59.3) were noted. Near the road numerous quarry marks (59.5) and a rock-cut vat and cistern (59.7) were recorded. Although now bare, it seems likely that this slope was once terraced. The remains of three of these walls (59.8) were noted.
Features: Wadi Embankment, Cave, Press, Road, Quarry, Vat, Cistern, Terrace, Field Wall, Tomb
Pottery Count: 23/143
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, BYZ, ROM, IR -- 1987: BYZ
Site No.: 60 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 239075E, 142300N
Description: This site, first noted in 1987, had been almost completely quarried away. Only part of a single wall of the rectilinear structure (60.1) noted in 1987 remained. All other features had been completely removed.
1987 Report: Intensive quarrying over the last fifteen years has greatly disturbed the major features of this site. Nevertheless, numerous cisterns and caves dot the area, many of them collapsed or cut by quarrying. Although the site is relatively flat, there is a slightly elevated area upon which the remains of a rectilinear structure can be seen. on the southeast edge of the site a well preserved winepress was found. Along the northern edge runs the possible line of an ancient road, near which a stone watering trough was located. (Younker, 1991)
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Cave, Cistern, Press, Quarry, Road
Pottery Count: 9/72
Pottery Reading: 1987: 1 MOD BOD, BYZ DOM, L ROM, E ROM, FEW IR BODS
Site No.: 61 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 239075E, 142800N
Description: This site sat on a ridge of exposed bedrock, used in 1992 as a threshing floor. The remains of a wall (61.1) ran for 170 meters along a lower contour of bedrock, effectively separating the threshing floor from three cisterns (61.5-7). This wall would have allowed access to the cisterns while preventing livestock from entering the threshing area. Higher on the slope, above the threshing floor, the site was dominated by tombs. Seven Byzantine cyst/shaft tombs (61.2) and twenty loculi style tombs (61.3) with stepped entries and arched entryway were scattered across the upper slope. Quarry marks (61.4) and another cistern (61.8) completed the features at the site.
Function: Non-centralized agricultural complex and cemetery.
Features: Wall Line, Tomb, Quarry, Cistern, Cistern, Cistern, Cistern, Threshing Floor
Pottery Count: 8/67
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ BODS, IR BODS -- 1987: PROB BYZ BODS, ER, FEW IR BODS
Site No.: 63 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235000E, 143000N
Description: This site was primarily a cemetery, with Byzantine shaft tombs (63.6), and tombs with arched entries and steps (63.7). These latter may have been either loculi tombs or cave tombs. Other features are more indicative of agricultural pursuits. These include cisterns (63.1-2), a terrace wall (63.5), cupholes (63.4), and quarry marks (63.3).
Features: Cistern, Cistern, Quarry, Cuphole, Terrace, Tomb, Tomb
Pottery Count: 42/284
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ ONLY -- 1987: No pottery data
Site No.: 65 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235100E, 140500N
Description: Cisterns dominated this site at the bottom of a pine-forested hill slope. Two continued in use (65.1-2), another had collapsed (65.7). Sherds from water-jugs of several time periods were collected here. Quarry marks (65.8) littered the site. Caves (65.3,5,9) and presses (65.4,6) were encountered on each of the exposed bedrock fingers that reach out toward the cultivated fields. All told, a multi-purpose site offered good water facilities for industrial, agricultural, and pastoral uses. The proximate abandoned police station suggests locational factors (esp. transit routes) may have been significant in the past. Two undocumented sites abut 65: a medium-sized cemetery to the west and a cave-residence complex among the farm fields to the south. These add to the multi-use portrait of this site.
Function: Multi-use
Food Systems: Farm, cistern, to cyst: It's all here!
Features: Cistern, Cistern, Cave, Basin, Cave, Press, Cistern, Quarry, Cave
Pottery Count: 68/360
Pottery Reading: 1992: FEW MOD, 1 OTT, AY/MAM, UM, BYZ/UM, BYZ, L IR2 -- 1987: MOD DOM, FEW BYZ, IR BODS
Site No.: 66 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235600E, 140500N
Description: A bedrock installation for processing wine or perhaps oil were the principal features of the site. The winepress was large and fairly well preserved with 3 basins. The possible oil press was more ephemeral and perhaps a private installation with small cupholes and channels leading to a larger cuphole. A second winepress was recorded about 40 meters south of 66.1.
Function: Wine and perhaps oil production.
Features: Press, Press, Cistern, Quarry
Pottery Count: 4/26
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ, ROM, IR2 -- 1987: No pottery
Site No.: 68 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232900E, 143700N
Description: This site, first noted in 1987, had been completely buried/destroyed by the construction of two areas of terrace walls, the importation of topsoil, and the construction of fences surrounding the newly terraced slopes.
1987 Report: A line of stones running along the natural contours of a hill roughly paralleling the new airport highway appears to be the curb of a (possible ancient) road. This site corresponds to a road marked on the 1;25,000 contour map. The stones are visible at this location for about 75 m. There are some possible cobble stones scattered about, but none were seen in situ. (Younker, 1991)
Features: Road, Terrace
Pottery Count: 0/25
Pottery Reading: 1987: BYZ, E ROM, IR2, ALL BODS
Site No.: 69 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235300E, 140600N
Description: A centralized agricultural complex. This site was dominated by a collapsed cave/cistern complex (69.1). On the collapsed stone roof of this cave were the remains of numerous cupholes (69.5) and quarry marks, and one basin of a winepress (69.4). North of this cave were the remains of a large rectilinear structure (69.2), and terrace walls (69.3,7). Along the bedrock, just above the wadi were numerous rock-cut features, including quarry marks (69.9) and a winepress (69.11). Into this winepress a Byzantine shaft tomb had been sunk. Dave Hopkins sank a probe into the rectilinear structure at this site: all pottery from the probe was Iron 2.
Features: Cave, Rectilinear Structure, Terrace, Press, Cuphole, Field Wall, Wadi Embankment, Basin, Quarry, Tomb, Press, Tomb
Pottery Count: 5/66
Pottery Reading: 1992: UM, BYZ, IR2 -- 1987: 1 E PER, L IR2
Site No.: 70 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232000E, 141900N
Description: Low on the northern slope of wadi el Bisharat was a limekiln (70.1). This kiln was 7.5 meters from the back wall to the outer stone of the front wall and has a 5 meter inside diameter. A well-preserved cobbled draft on the northwest side of the limekiln was exposed in a 1987 excavation. It is fondly remembered as Fang's home. (Fang was a very dead, though very well preserved jackal. His remains were found resting in the shade of the back wall of the kiln. Although he served faithfully as survey mascot for two field seasons, he fared poorly at the hands of the archaeologists. Doug Clark knocked his head off in 1989. Following the '89 season, someone put him in a plastic bag, where his mummified flesh putrefied and detached itself from the skeleton. Alas, poor fang was no more.)
Function: Limekiln
Food System: Off-season labor, pruning for fuel, removal of field stones.
Features: Kiln
Pottery Count: 1/7
Pottery Reading: 1987: BYZ, IR BODS
Site No.: 71 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236300E, 142100N
Description: This rectilinear structure sat on a slope overlooking Wadi el-Hinu. About 1.5 km east was the central hill of Kh. es-Suq (elevation 889), at 100 degrees. Since the tower was not situated on the very top of the hill, which would have given it a view to the south, it probably served as a watchtower for the farmlands on the floor and on the slopes of Wadi el-Hinu. Features include the structure (71.1), an ephemeral press installation (a rock-cut feature) (71.2), and a cave (71.3).
Function: Watchtower for farmland in Wadi el-Hinu.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Press, Cave
Pottery Count: 5/27
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ, IR2 -- 1987: No pottery data
Site No.: 73 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 233800E, 138100N
Description: Most of this cemetery had been destroyed by the construction of a house, terrace walls, and perimeter wall of a modern villa. What was left, though, was significant. Several tombs including Byzantine shaft tombs, loculi tombs, and EB IV shaft tombs reused during the Middle Bronze Age. Two of these latter were excavated and produced material for both the archaeologist and the local thieves. It is anticipated that the remainder of this site will be further examined as part of a future study of the cemeteries of the 'Umayri region.
Features: Cave, Cistern, Cuphole, Tomb, Wall Line
Pottery Count: 2/50
Pottery Reading: 1992: MB, EBIV -- 1987: UM, L BYZ, FEW IR BODS, EB DOM
Site No.: 74 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235500E, 140000N
Description: A large site of dispersed agricultural features, dominated by the remains of a rectilinear structure (74.1) constructed of large boulders. Two cisterns (74.9,13) flanked this structure. The remains of two other rectilinear structures were noted to the east (74.2) and to the west (74.12). A cave (74.8), two field walls (74.3,10) and a winepress (74.6) rounded out the central features of the site. Above and below the site, terrace walls were found as well as quarry marks and cupholes.
Function: Agricultural complex.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Rectilinear Structure, Field Wall, Quarry, Basin, Press, Terrace, Cave, Cistern, Field Wall, Press, Rectilinear Structure, Cistern, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 14/99
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, BYZ/UM, BYZ, IR2 -- 1987: ALL BODS, BYZ DOM, ROM, IR2, EB
Site No.: 75 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235600E, 140300N
Description: At the southwest corner of the summit of hill 888, a small rectilinear structure (75.1) was found. Since 1987 when it was first recorded, this structure had been partially destroyed. Upslope, a large field wall (75.2) was found, stretching from site 55 through 75 to site 74. On the slopes below feature 1, terraces (75.3) were noted.
Function: Small agricultural complex.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Field Wall, Terrace
Pottery Count: 13/63
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ, FEW POSS ROM, FEW IR BODS -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 76 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235500E, 140800N
Description: Around a 3-basin press, a large basin of unknown function was found in the bedrock about 3m SW of the press. Quarry marks were scattered around the site, mainly south of the press. Cupholes were found throughout the site although two of them are cut into the western floor of the press.
Function: Pressing location.
Features: Press, Quarry, Press, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 0/5
Pottery Reading: 1992: ALL BODS, BYZ, POSS IR -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 77 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235400E, 141200N
Description: The rectilinear structure (77.1) noted at this site in 1987 was mostly gone, with only one wall clearly in place. The quarry marks and terracing remained.
1987 Report: Presently located in the middle of a pine forest, this site appears to be another field tower. The remains consist of the foundation stones of a small, almost square structure measuring about 3.00 X 3.30 m. Terracing is evident on the slopes to the northwest and west. Quarry marks can also be seen a short distance to the west and southwest. The forest floor is heavily covered with pine needles; no pottery was found. (Younker, 1991)
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Terrace, Quarry
Pottery Count: 12/49
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, UM, BYZ -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 78 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235700E, 141100N
Description: The features at this site suggested a small agricultural complex. A small rectilinear structure 78.1 sat atop the high point of hill 899 with good views of the surrounding fields. This structure was surrounded by a perimeter wall 78.7. Downslope to the south were the remains of a terrace wall 78.5, a vat 78.3 (possibly the remains of a winepress), was cut into bedrock 20m to the west of 78.1 To the SW, a large cave 78.4 had partially collapsed. A limekiln was recorded 20m to the SE. Finally, a constellation of 2 square and one large round cupholes were located 30m S of 78.1
Function: likely a farmstead.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Kiln, Basin, Cave, Terrace, Cuphole, Perimeter Wall, Wall Line
Pottery Count: 7/49
Pottery Reading: 1992: UM, BYZ, ER, IRON -- 1987: BYZ BODS, ROM/BYZ BODS, IR BODS
Site No.: 79 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235300E, 141300N
Description: A limekiln was found near the top of the ridge on the edge of a pine forest. The wall of the limekiln was ca. 25% bedrock and 75% a banked stone built wall creating an oval shape. There were quarry marks to the east, south, and west of the limekiln along the bedrock outcroppings.
Function: Limekiln for plaster production.
Features: Kiln, Quarry, Terrace
Pottery Count:
Pottery Reading: 1987: BYZ, IR BODS
Site No.: 80 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235500E, 140900N
Description: In the NE corner of the middle fork of a triple-branched wadi, just east of the cultivated fields lay a small limekiln (80.1). Up against bedrock, this limekiln was located just below a large expanse of exposed bedrock covering all of the eastern slope of this wadi. Located in this bedrock was the only other feature at this site: a winepress (80.2) with associated cupholes.
Function: Agricultural/Industrial
Features: Kiln, Press
Pottery Count: 0/2
Pottery Reading: 1992: 1 BYZ BOD, 1 IR BOD -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 81 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235100E, 140900N
Description: The site consisted of a rectilinear rock cut vat near the top of the slope, a small embankment damming up sediment in a small drainage east of the tributary wadi, and several quarry marks upslope to the SE on the abundant exposed bedrock on the slope of the hill. The tributary wadi is currently being subjected to agriculture pursuits as evidenced by plow marks parallel to the long axis of the wadi.
Function: Not really a coherent site. The site is a grouping of probably unrelated features taking advantage of abundant exposed bedrock evidently for building materials and the press plus the ability to embank sediment in the small drainage basin to provide additional agricultural sediment for the nearly tributary wadi.
Food System: Agricultural production and processing.
Features: Vat, Wadi Embankment, Quarry, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 5/24
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, BYZ 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 82 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235200E, 141100N
Description: The limekiln recorded at the site in 1987 no longer exists. Only a few limestone boulders which appeared to be crumbled from heat remained. The quarrying and cuphole noted in the 1987 report remained.
1987 Report: This kiln, the internal diameter of which is ca. 3.00 m, overlooks a cultivated wadi to the south. Pieces of slag were found around the edge of the installation. Evidence for quarrying could be seen across the road to the west. A bedrock cuphole (ca. 0.40 X 0.30 m) appears about 2.50 m south of the quarried area. (Younker, 1991)
Features: Kiln, Quarry, Cuphole
Pottery Count:
Pottery Reading: 1987: 2 BYZ BODS
Site No.: 83 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236400E, 140800N
Description: This site consisted of a number of agricultural features that were spread out (but not widely scattered) along the middle slope of a spur. Central to these features was a rectilinear structure (83.1) ca. 4.7 m square. Three presses (83.2, 5, 7), a cave/cistern (83.3), terrace walls (83.6, 8), and a variety of cupholes (83.4, 9) completed the array of features at this site.
Function: Agricultural center with a collection of widely scattered features.
Food System: Processing of grapes and grain and oversight of farmlands and vineyards.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Press, Cave, Cuphole, Press, Terrace, Press, Terrace, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 18/90
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ, IR2 -- 1987: IR2, IR BODS
Site No.: 84 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 234100E, 138400N
Description: Site 84 was a classic farmstead of the Iron 2 period. A large 9.8 x 9.8 meter rectilinear structure (84.1), partially surrounded by what was probably a perimeter wall (84.7), was located immediately beneath a tower for electric power lines. Two large, well preserved winepresses (84.2, 3) were located to the S.E. and N.W. of 84.1. The ephemeral remains of a third large winepress (84.4), this one surrounded by cupholes, were found to the SW. of feature 1. A unique 4.9 x 4.3 meter reservoir (84.8) had been cut into the rock about half way between 84.1 and 84.4. Steps leading into this reservoir had been cut into the rock. Terrace walls (84.9), cupmarks (84.6), and quarry marks (84.5) completed the features at this site. (This site was excavated by Dave Hopkins during the 1994 field season.)
Function: Farmstead.
Food System: Food production and preparation, especially grapes and wine.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Press, Press, Press, Quarry, Cuphole, Perimeter Wall, Reservoir, Terrace
Pottery Count: 16/126
Pottery Reading: 1992: FEW POSS ROM, IR2 DOM -- 1987: PROB BYZ BODS, PROB EB BODS
Site No.: 85 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 231900E, 138200N
Description: Located on the crest of the ridge north of Umm el-Basateen. This site consisted of chert walled structures, various other walls, and pressing facilities hewn into exposed limestone bedrock along with a cistern and cave. A field wall (85.10) bisected the site. Agricultural fields descended the north slope that also sheltered the cave (85.2) and circular structure sitting cautiously on the ledge. A square rectilinear structure (85.1) dominated the southern portion of the site. Beyond the rectilinear structures, a perimeter wall (85.12), pressing facilities were noted to the east and west (85:4,5,9,13,14,15) as well as a cistern. A huge stone pile abutted a wall-line in the ground adjacent to the start of an embankment that ran away from the core of the site toward the ridge top.
Function: Agricultural complex.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Cave, Cistern, Press, Press, Stone Pile, Wadi Embankment, Wall Line, Basin, Field Wall, Circular Structure, Perimeter Wall, Press, Cuphole, Press, Press, Quarry
Pottery Count: 17/256
Pottery Reading: 1992: FEW BYZ, IR2 DOM, IR1 -- 1987: FEW BYZ, L IR2 DOM
Site No.: 88 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 232400E, 139900N
Description: This site boasted two circular towers of very large boulders. Near the upper tower (88.1) was a limekiln (88.2), next to the lower tower (88.3) was the opening to a cistern. These towers look out over the slopes east of Wadi Hajal. Surprisingly, no ancient terrace walls were visible on this slope.
Function: Small agricultural complex-Limekiln.
Features: Circular Structure, Kiln, Circular Structure, Cistern, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 9/113
Pottery Reading: 1992: UM, BYZ, ROM, PROB HEL, L IR2 -- 1987: FEW BYZ, L ROM, IR1
Site No.: 90 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236600E, 141200N
Description: On the slope of the hill, just below the saddle was an area of extensive quarrying (90.1). Also on the slope were two terrace walls (90.2), a cave (90.3), and a press (90.5), most likely for olive oil. In addition, cupholes were noted at various places. Along the top of the ridge a field wall ran for hundreds of meters, continuing through sites 93&94.
Features: Quarry, Terrace, Cave, Cuphole, Press, Cistern, Field Wall, Rectilinear Structure
Pottery Count: 3/15
Pottery Reading: 1992: 1 MOD BOD, BYZ/UM -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 91 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 235300E, 140700N
Description: This site appeared to be a major production center for olive oil, with a large complex of vats, channels and cisterns (91.1,2) Other features included a tomb (91.4), numerous quarry marks (91.3), a cistern (91.5) and cupholes (91.6).
Function: Oil production
Features: Vat, Press, Quarry, Tomb, Cistern, Cuphole, Press
Pottery Count: 30/96
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, UM, BYZ, FEW IR BODS -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 92 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236200E, 141300N
Description: Site 92 was a group of widely scattered rock cut features and a limekiln. It was located on the lowest part of the hill on which site 101 was located (101 is NW if 92). It sat between 2 branches of a wadi, whose main course runs SE of the site at 120 degrees. This wadi eventually runs down to Wadi Um el-Kudsh, according to the topographical map, but a local informant was not familiar with the name. We thought the cave opening in R. Younker's 1987 report (Younker, 1991) was natural.
Function: This site is a non-centralized agricultural/industrial complex of features (mostly rock-cut).
Features: Kiln, Basin, Quarry, Basin, Basin, Vat, Cuphole, Tomb, Cave, Field Wall
Pottery Count: 4/32
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ, IR2 -- 1987: BYZ/ROM BODS, IR BODS, U.D. BODS
Site No.: 93 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236300E, 141500N
Description: A whole slope filled with agro/industrial installations, apparently not focused on the small rectilinear feature (93.4) at the bottom of the slope. A sinuous terrace wall (93.6) unites the site as it ran above the edge of the wadi, giving birth to several field walls (93.3) and embankments. Numerous rock-cut presses (93.7,10,12) and cupholes (93.2,5) and two "side groove installations" (93.8,11) peppered the exposed bedrock. A large and deep rock-cut cistern sat near the top of the slope (93.1) that held two cisterns (93.9, 14). A possible dolmen (93.13) sat at the southern extreme of the site.
Features: Vat, Cuphole, Field Wall, Rectilinear Structure, Cuphole, Terrace, Press, Press, Cistern, Press, Press, Press, Dolmen, Cistern
Pottery Count: 1/21
Pottery Reading: 1992: BYZ, IR BODS -- 1987: BYZ/ROM BODS, IR BODS, UD BODS
Site No.: 94 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236400E, 141400N
Description: A road system, perhaps intra-site, snaked down the slope and intersected three long terrace walls that terminate at or near the road's curb. At the apex of the site, a circular structure overlooked the hill slope and wadi floor.
Function: An intra-site communications route bisects two terrace systems overseen by circular structure. Represented an intensive and planned exploration of the hill slope.
Food System: Intensive, planned, internally organized agricultural production.
Features: Road, Terrace, Circular Structure
Pottery Count: 0/1
Pottery Reading: 1987: 1 IR BOD
Site No.: 95 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236300E, 140900N
Description: On a spur leading down into a wadi ran the curblines of a road (95.1) for 150m. To the north of the road the remains of a long field wall (95.2) ran down to the wadi. This wall was intersected by terraces (95.3). Along the slopes, cupholes (95.5) and quarry marks (95.4) were noted.
Features: Road, Field Wall, Terrace, Quarry, Cuphole
Pottery Count: 22/66
Pottery Reading: 1992: MOD, UM, BYZ, ROM, POSS IR -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 97 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 233700E, 140900N
Description: A small site consisting of a limekiln (97.1) and a cistern (97.2). The cistern appears to have originally been two cisterns each with an opening. At a later date, the wall between the two was removed. Just 5 meters to the S.E. a limekiln (97.2) was recorded.
Features: Cistern, Kiln
Pottery Count: 8/49
Pottery Reading: 1992: POSS UM, BYZ -- 1987: No Pottery
Site No.: 98 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 231400E, 141000N
Description: This limekiln (98.1) was located low on the slope of agricultural fields. Terrace walls were not visible but the characteristic lip of buried terraces were evident.
Features: Kiln, Terrace
Pottery Count: 1/5
Pottery Reading: 1992: POSS BYZ BODS -- 1987: 1 IR BOD
Site No.: 99 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 231200E, 141100N
Description: This limekiln sat on the first terrace above the wadi floor in a wheat field. It measured 6.22 meters in diameter with walls 0.94-2.1 M thick. A draft was not visible, although one was suggested by a slight depression to the SW.
Function: Limekiln.
Features: Kiln
Pottery Count: 0/1
Pottery Reading: 1987: 1 U.D. BOD
Site No.: 100 Palestine Grid Coordinates: 236000E, 142600N
Description: The well preserved foundation of a large rectilinear structure (100.1), just 15 meters north of an ancient road (100.10), highlighted this agricultural complex. Next to feature 1 was a cistern (100.3) with a badly eroded opening. South and downslope of 100.1 was a small cistern, or perhaps a grain silo (100.7), and two curious rock-cut features (100.8, 9) each with a circular and a rectangular basin. Entrances to three tombs (100.4, 5, 6) were visible north of Feature 1, including one which had cut into cistern 100.3. Finally, a large limekiln (100.2) was recorded 50 meters N.W. of the rectilinear structure.
Features: Rectilinear Structure, Kiln, Cistern, Tomb, Tomb, Tomb, Cistern, Basin, Basin, Road, Cuphole, Field Wall, Perimeter Wall, Terrace
Pottery Count: 22/173
Pottery Reading: 1992: 1 PROB BYZ, L IR2 DOM, E IR2 -- 1987: IR BODS DOM
