During July–August 2007, a survey was conducted in the region of Nahal Hallamish and Nahal Heter (Permit No. A-5232; map ref. 2260–88/5621–44; Fig. 1), prior to enlarging a mine. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Rotem Amfert Company Ltd., was directed by Y. Haimi, with the assistance of O. Shmueli, E. Aladjem, R. Zecharia and S. Gal (GPS) and Y. el-‘Amor (Arabic inscription).
An area (8,900 dunams) was surveyed and twenty sites were discovered south of Highway 31, which descends from ‘Arad to the Dead Sea, in a desert region where subsistence is difficult and sites are sparse (1–14, 17–22; Table 1).
No finds that can assist in dating the sites were discovered; however, it seems that the temporary encampments and a few of the other sites were used by the local Bedouin population.