During June 2009, a survey preceding development was conducted in the region of Nahal Be’er Hayyil (License No. S-122/2009; map ref. 17425–626/54176–347; Fig. 1), prior to the construction of a waste water purification facility. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Ramat Negev Regional Council, was directed by I. Peretz and Y. Haimi, with the assistance of S. Gal (GPS map) and the Sky View Company (aerial photography).
An area (c. 900 dunams) within the Mash’abbē Sade survey map [163] was surveyed; numerous farming terraces, a cistern and a building were documented.
Eighty-six farming terraces that accumulated loess alluvium were found along the Nahal Be’er Hayyil tributaries (Fig. 2). The terraces (width 0.5–0.7 m) were built of different size fieldstones; Terrace 15 (length 128 m, width 0.5 m; Fig. 3) is a typical example.
A circular building (87; map ref. 175192/542576; diam. 5 m; Fig. 4) was located between farming terraces in the wadi channel; the entrance was set in the southern side. Fragments of black potsherds from the Ottoman period were found outside the building.
A cistern hewn in limestone bedrock (1; map ref. 175519/542137; depth 4.5 m; Fig. 5) was located near a tamarisk tree. The cistern’s opening (diam. 1.5 m; Fig. 6) was built of three stone courses and fragments of black potsherds dating to the Ottoman period were found around it. The cistern was probably hewn in the Byzantine period and also used in the Ottoman period.
The numerous farming terraces point to a large agricultural area that was used in the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.