During February 2009, a survey preceding development was conducted in the Jatt village in the Galilee (License No. S-82/2009; map ref. 221004–665/764212–419), prior to the construction of a residential neighborhood. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, was directed by Y. Lerer, with the assistance of L. Porat (survey) and A. Shapiro (survey and GPS).
The surveyed area is located c. 1 km west of Tel Jatt in the Galilee. The rock formations in most of the area are hard dolomite that is unsuitable for quarrying or ancient agriculture. Soft qirton rock is found only on the hill in the southeastern part of the area (Trigonometric Point C-776).
A cistern (Site 1) and farming terraces (Sites 2–4; Fig. 1) were discovered on the chalk hill. It was not possible to date the quarrying of the cistern; however, it was undoubtedly also used in the modern era because the capstone was lined with modern cement. It was also difficult to estimate when the farming terraces were built.
In view of their proximity to Tel Jatt in the Galilee, it can reasonably be assumed that the finds documented in the survey are remains of agricultural activity conducted by the inhabitants of the tell.