The survey area (1.2 sq km; Fig. 1) extends between Tel ‘Eton in the north, Horbat Benaya in the south, the western foothills of Har Tur en-Nimmer and the separation fence in the east and Shevil Ha-Patrolim(Patrol Lane) in the west. Two-hundred and three survey sites were documented, mostly located on a large hill south of Tel ‘Eton. These include various installations and tombs and eighty-five farming terraces and enclosure walls (not marked on the map) that were largely erected on the southern and southwestern slopes of the hill; they were built of large fieldstones and some of them were preserved eight or nine courses high. Seventeen natural caves were examined and found devoid of any archaeological remains (not marked on the map). It seems that the installations and tombs should be ascribed to the ancient sites, bordering on the survey area, Tel ‘Eton and Horbat Benaya, as well as Horbat ‘Eton and Khirbat Hauran, to the northwest and west of the survey area.

Stone Clearance Heaps. One-hundred and four clearance heaps of small stones were surveyed; seven are large heaps (Nos. 3, 7, 14–18; diam. 5 m), one is medium (No. 160; diam. 3 m) and the rest are small (Nos. 34, 35, 37–42, 44, 46–52, 55–60, 63, 66, 67, 69–79, 81–85, 87, 88, 94–100, 102, 103, 106–109, 111–114, 116–126, 129–132, 134, 136, 138–142, 145–149, 152–157, 159, 161; diam. 1.5–2.0 m); Heap 161 is delineated by large stones. Three other heaps (Nos. 89, 90, 110; diam. 1.5–2.0 m), consisting of small stones, are located in natural caves.

 

Cairns. Twenty-one cairns, identified with certainty, are located on the hill in the middle of the survey area and along its eastern slopes. Nineteen cairns are round (Nos. 10–13, 27, 28, 30–32, 36, 45, 54, 61, 62, 65, 68, 92, 105, 218; diam. 3–5 m; Fig. 3) and two are elongated (Nos. 150, 163; 2×3 m). The cairns consist of a deposit of large stones that is covered with smaller stones. A hewn burial cell (0.5×1.8 m, depth 0.4 m; Fig. 4) was discerned below the stone heap in Cairn 218. Seven stone heaps that may also be cairns (Nos. 207, 209–214) were surveyed, although the distinction between them and the stone clearance heaps is not clear.

 

Winepresses. Two clusters of winepresses were surveyed: on the northern slopes of the hill, close to Tel ‘Eton (No. 180, 194, 198, 204) and near the top of the hill, in the middle part of the survey area (Nos. 43, 64, 80, 86, 93, 115, 151, 158). Another winepress (No. 6) was documented at the southern end of the survey area, near Horbat Benaya. All the winepresses were hewn on exposed bedrock terraces (depth of rock-cutting 0.1–0.4 m). The treading floors and collecting vats in seven of the winepresses (Nos. 6, 43, 93, 151, 158, 194, 204) are rectangular, whereas in the other six winepresses (Nos. 64, 80, 86, 115, 180, 198), they are circular.

 

Cupmarks. Four cupmarks (Nos. 19, 104, 144, 162) were noted in the center of the survey area and another was discovered south of Horbat Benaya. The shallow cupmarks (diam. 0.2–0.4 m, depth 0.1–0.2 m) were hewn on bedrock terraces.

 

Olive Press Stones. Two stones that belonged to an olive press (crushing basins; No. 4 – diam. 1.5 m, thickness 1 m; No. 33 – diam. 1 m, thickness 0.8 m; Fig. 5) were found. The connection between the stones and their location is unclear; it is possible that they were hewn nearby.

 

Tombs. Four tombs were identified (Nos. 22, 24, 53, 205). They are oriented southwest-northeast and were probably part of a larger Muslim cemetery. Tomb 205 is rock-hewn; Tomb 53 (0.5×1.2 m) is built of large stones with smaller stones between them; Tombs 22 and 24 are pit graves, adjacent to each other, with an upright stone slab standing at their southwestern end. 

Burial Caves. At the foot of the hill’s northern slope, close to Tel ‘Eton, twenty rock-hewn burial caves (Nos. 166–171, 173–175, 177, 183, 185–192, 195) were positively identified and another five (Nos. 172, 178, 182, 184, 193), which may also have been used for interment, were noted. On the hill in the middle of the survey area, another burial cave (91) and a cave that was most likely used for burial (No. 137) were documented. It seems that all the caves had been plundered in the past. Since the ceilings or hewn entrances had collapsed in most of the caves it was impossible to comprehend their plan. A central chamber that gave access to three cells could be seen in Cave 167. Cave 192 (Fig. 6) had an arched opening that led to at least one burial cell and in Caves 183, 185, and 191, an arched opening led to a single burial cell. Cave 195 included a large hall that accessed another chamber; this may have been an entrance to an underground hiding complex. A stone heap (diam. c. 1.75 m) was located in Cave 91. It seems that most of the caves were part of the Tel ‘Eton cemetery. 

 

Caves. Evidence of human activity was discerned in five natural caves (Nos. 29, 133, 176, 196, 208). Signs of rock-cuttings were visible in Caves 133 and 176; Cave 208 was hewn larger, apparently to adapt it for a dwelling; columbarium niches were installed in Caves 29 and 196. Three large niches were hewn in Cave 196 and an opening that connected it to an adjacent burial cave was breached.

 

Hewn Shafts. Seven hewn shafts that led to natural caves (Nos. 127, 165, 179, 199, 200–202; diam. 0.6–1.7 m; Fig. 7) were detected.

 

Building Remains. At the northern end of the survey area, close to Tel ‘Eton, the tops of walls that belonged to a large building (No. 220; 15×20 m; Fig. 8) were documented. The stone collapse of a building or a built tomb (No. 2) and a rectangular watchman’s hut (No. 1; length 3 m) whose walls were built of fieldstones were also examined in the southern part of the survey area, close to Horbat Benaya.

 

Rock-cuttings. A quarry (No. 8; 3×5 m) and an irregular shaped rock-cutting on a bedrock terrace (No. 101) were recorded.