During November 2002 a development survey was conducted in the labor zone of Modi‘in (Permit No. A-3761*; map ref. NIG 19590–740/64290–435; OIG 14590–740/14290–435). The survey, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and funded by the Israel Lands Administration, was performed by M. Haiman, O. Shmueli and L. Barda, with the participation of T. Kanias and the assistance of D. Amit (pottery reading) and H. Khalaily (identification of flint tools).
Horbat Nekhes
A dense scattering of potsherds and flint implements was found in an agricultural field on the eastern fringes of the ruin, along with a hewn and plastered reservoir, water cisterns and residential buildings, dating from the Mamluk or Ottoman periods. An ashlar built rampart, preserved 2 m high, was visible to the east of the ruin.
Horbat Kefar Tov
A scattering of building stones, attributed to the site, was found on the northern slopes of the ruin. Rock-hewn installations, rock-cuttings and a water cistern along the northern fringes of the ruin were documented.
Horbat Bizqa
Burial caves with a square courtyard were found at the western part of the ruin, as well as arcosolia, winepresses, hewn water cisterns and farming terraces. Bedrock surfaces with hewn elliptical cupmarks (0.20 × 0.35 m), similar to other complexes in the Modi‘in region and dating to the Chalcolithic period, were also recorded. A scattering of flint implements that dated from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods was discerned in the fields west of the cupmark surfaces.
Cupmarks, farming terraces and stone clearance heaps were documented throughout the area and circular rock-hewn basins were noted in the northern part of the area.