Biq‘at Zin, Survey

The western of the three areas is located in a wadi channel that flows toward Nahal Zin, between Nahal Zinnim and Nahal Hawwa (Fig. 2). Several temporary encampments (Sites 1, 2, 7, 8, 9) were located on the bank of Nahal Zinnim. The temporary encampments consisted of soil surfaces that were cleared of stones and alongside were shallow stone clearance heaps and stone circles (diam. c. 1 m, size of stones 0.3 × 0.3; Fig. 3). Elliptical stone heaps (1.0 × 1.8 m, height 0.3 m; Sites 3, 4, 6, 10, 12–15) that comprised small stones (0.3 m) and probably covered nomads’ graves from later periods were discerned on the hilltops. A cist tomb (5; 1 × 1 m) whose date is unknown was also found.

A cave was located on the cliff of the wadi channel, next to the southeastern boundary of Area A. The cave was probably natural and may have been used as a granary. Its narrow opening (c. 0.6 m) led to a small cavity (1.0 × 1.5 m; Site 16; Fig. 4).

 

A segment of Darb es-Sultan (length c. 1 km, width c. 5 m; Fig. 2) was preserved between Sede Zinnim and Nahal Hawwa. The road is cleared of stones and generally oriented east–west. Evidence of shallow digging that leveled the road can be seen in those segments where the gradient is steep. Cairns (diam. 2.5–4.0 m, height 0.5 m; Sites 21, 22, 24) and stone heaps (diam. 3–4 m; Sites 23, 25–27) were preserved on the sides of the road. It seems that the piles of stone are clearance heaps of the road’s stones and some of them probably cover pit graves.

An ascent was hewn in the cliff alongside the hill, meandering for dozens of meters in the road’s section that passes the western cliff of Nahal Hawwa (Site 28; Fig. 5). A base for the ascent was built of a fieldstone surface (2.5 × 6.0 m, height 0.4 m) in the wadi channel to protect it from flooding.

Area B
The middle area is located east of Nahal Hawwa (Fig. 6). A stone heap (diam. 1 m; Site 30) was noted along its western fringes, as well as two narrow paths (width c. 0.5 m), oriented north–south, which led from the plateau to the wide wadi channel of Nahal Zin (Sites 31, 32).

Area C
The eastern area is located northwest of the Nahal Hagor wadi channel; however, sites were also surveyed to its southeast (Fig. 7). A cluster of circular stone heaps, one course high (diam. 2–3 m, height 0.3 m; Site 40), was discerned in the Nahal Saraf wadi channel. Three stone heaps that are one course high (diam. c. 2 m; Sites 41–44) and several fieldstone circles (diam. 1 m; Site 45) were recorded in the Nahal Hagor wadi channel. Three stone circles (diam. 1–3 m; Sites 46–48) were noted at the top of the cliff above Nahal Hagor; in the middle of each circle were clusters of small stones. Two stone circles (diam. 1.5 m, height 0.3 m; Sites 49, 50) were located in the channel west of Area C.