Four areas (A–D; Fig. 1) were excavated along the northern slope of Horbat Zur, which is situated on the southern bank of Nahal Gedur and in the vicinity of three Chalcolithic sites: Khirbat esh-Sheikh Madkur (c. 1 km to the west), Horbat Naqqar (c. 500 m to the northwest) and Horbat ‘Illit (c. 800 m to the east).

Area A. Remains of a burial cave whose western part was destroyed during the construction of the separation fence were found. The cave was circular (diam. c. 2.5 m) and its entrance, probably from the north, was paved with flagstones, which were partly roughly hewn (L105). Remains of the pavement were also preserved in the eastern part of the cave (3.0 × 3.7 m). The interments in the cave consisted of secondary burials in jars that were placed on the pavement in the center and on the bedrock floor in its western part. At least 19 in situ burials were exposed during the excavation and elements of other ex situ burials were found scattered in the area between the jars and on top of the pavement. At least two phases of interment were discerned in the western part, whereby the burials of Phase I (Loci 108–110, 117–121, 124, 135, 200; Fig. 2) were placed directly above those of Phase II (Loci 126, 144, 145, 147, 153, 154, 160, 161; Fig. 3).

The pottery vessels and the bones were poorly preserved; however, it was possible to differentiate the pottery vessels that were utilized in secondary burials, as well as one or two of the interred individuals. Mostly adult individuals were buried, but in several instances deciduous teeth and bones of children were found in the jars. Nearly all the preserved human remains consisted of long bones and teeth of upper and lower jaws. It was difficult to identify the vessel types because of the poor preservation; however, it seems that some were mushroom-shaped jars (Fig. 4). The meager funerary offerings consisted mostly of V-shaped bowls from the Chalcolithic period.

 

Area B. Remains of a dwelling cave that was used for industrial activity, based on procurement marks and debris and a large amount of waste material, were found. The upper part of the cave was not preserved, nor was the northern part that had been cut during development work; consequently it was impossible to determine the complete outline of the cave. The preserved part was rectangular (2.5 × 4.0 m) and on the eastern wall were signs of rock cuttings that indicated it was partially hewn.

Two phases were exposed in the cave. The first phase was noted in the western part and included two concentrations of stones (Loci 114, 115; Fig. 5) and a pavement of potsherds (L116). The second phase consisted of occupational debris on top of the bedrock floor (Figs. 6, 7). Both phases dated to the Chalcolithic period. Four pits of different shapes that were hewn in the sides of the cave should be ascribed to the second phase. Three of them (Loci 142, 149, 150) were hewn from above, suggesting that the ceiling of the cave had already collapsed in the Chalcolithic period. Pit 142, which had an elliptical plan (1.4 × 1.8 m), was rather shallow and contained terra rosa fill and large fragments of pottery vessels; in its last phase it was probably used as a refuse pit. Pit 150 was elongated (0.8 × 1.4 m), shallow and filled with alluvium. Pit 149 was circular (diam. c. 1 m), relatively deep and filled with small limestone chips, most likely debris from quarrying activity and large fragments of pottery vessels. At its bottom, a hearth full of ash (L151) was built. An additional hearth in the center of the area was filled with ash and burnt pottery vessels (L106) and should also be ascribed to the second phase.

Another large, shallow pit (L152) was probably used as another room, whose entrance was from the destroyed northern part of the cave.

The lithic finds from the cave included a large quantity of waste material, apparently indicating that flint procurement and initial knapping had taken place in the cave.  

Area C (Fig. 8). Remains of a structure whose curved wall (W1) was built around a depression, were found. The wall, which probably served to support the roof of a rock shelter, was built of fieldstones and preserved three courses high in its southern part (width 1 m). Bedrock served as the floor of the building and fragments of pottery vessels, flint artifacts and basalt bowls were found above it. The rock shelter was probably used for dwelling.

 

Area D. Remains of a rock shelter whose ceiling had collapsed were found. Two periods, Chalcolithic and EB I, were identified. It was impossible to distinguish the building remains from the Chalcolithic period, except for a deep elongated, bedrock-hewn pit in the northern part of the rock shelter (L164; Figs. 9, 10). The area was cleaned out and used for burial in EB I. A partition wall (W2) that delimited the burial area was built. Scattered remains of several individuals in secondary burial were found (L163). The few funerary offerings included a number of small bowls and miscellaneous potsherds. The meager finds probably testify to the looting of the cave. Some 20 m south of the area, at the top of the slope, were several oval-shaped, bedrock-hewn cupmarks, of the type that is usually located near Chalcolithic sites; a similar field of cupmarks was observed near Horbat ‘Illit (A. Eirikh-Rose and Y. Milevski, 2008, Chalcolithic Sites in ‘Emeq Ha-Ela. In D. Amit and GD. Stiebel, eds. New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Its Region: Collected Papers. Jerusalem. Pp. 107–116).

 

The exposed remains, which mostly belonged to the Ghassulian culture of the Chalcolithic period, included a burial cave, remains of flint procurement and probably a dwelling. The remains in the four areas represent, most likely, the peripheral activity of a large Chalcolithic settlement nearby (Khirbat esh-Sheikh Madkur, Horbat Naqqar or Horbat ‘Illit). The rock shelter in Area D was used for burial during EB I.