In July 2014, a salvage excavation was conducted on the fringes of Khirbat Burnat, east of Shoham (Permit No. A-7167; map ref. 196336–78/657703–30; Fig. 1). The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the property owner, was directed by A.S. Tendler, with the assistance of Y. Amrani (administration), M. Kunin (surveying and drafting) and C. Ben-Ari (GPS).
The excavation (Fig. 2) entailed cleaning the remains of a small cave (L100) in the northern section of the hill, several cavities (L101–L103) on the hilltop and an installation (L104) at the southeastern end of the hill. Cave 100 (Fig. 3), which was damaged during the recent earthworks, was elliptical, and a round depression found right above it might have been the opening of a shaft that led into it; no finds were discovered in it. Likewise, no artifacts were discovered in Cavities 101–103, which were possibly formed by karstic activity. Installation 104 included a rock-cut surface that was severed by earlier work there. A channel led from the surface to a shallow elliptical basin (Fig. 4); it seems that the installation was a simple wine press.
The excavated hill lay on the fringes of the settlement unearthed at Khirbat Burnat, in an area that served for agriculture, industry and burial.
Amit D., Torgë H. and Gendelman P. 2008.
Horvat Burnat, a Jewish Village in the Lod Shephelah during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods.
Qadmoniot 136:96–108 (Hebrew).
Paz Y. and Paz S. 2007. Tel Bareket – Excavations in a Fortified City of the Early Bronze Age II in the Central Coastal Plain. Qadmoniot 134:82–89 (Hebrew).
Torgë H. 2012. Settlement Remains from the Late Hellenistic and Early Roman Periods at Khirbat Burnat (Southwest). ‘Atiqot 69:1*–68* (Hebrew; English summary, pp. 157–159).