During July 2007, a one-day survey was conducted at the Morasha Interchange (Permit No. A-5187; map ref. NIG 18500–737/66975–7094; OIG 13500–737/16975–7094), prior to its expansion. The survey, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by U. ‘Ad, D. Barkan and E. Jakoel, with the assistance of A. Dagot (GPS).
The survey was conducted along routes of future-paved roads and their environs (Fig. 1). The survey area was located in a region of hamra hills, whose tops have sandy soil and along their fringes the soil is heavier. Part of the survey area was covered with vegetation or refuse, which hindered the field work. Most of the area lies along the southeastern fringes of the Herzliyya survey map (R. Gophna and E. Ayalon, 1998, Map of Herzliyya [69]). A cemetery with stone coffins, remains of kilns for the manufacture of glass, remains of a bathhouse and numerous ceramic artifacts from the Late Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Crusader and Ottoman periods were documented in this region of the Map of Herzliyya (Site 95, Skeikh esh-Sa‘ad). North of the documented cemetery, settlement remains from the Ottoman period and a Bedouin cemetery were recorded.
The survey area was divided into 15 sub-areas. Areas 1, 3, 5 and 14 were characterized by hamra soil that was often sandy and included a few fragments of pottery vessels from the Ottoman period and the British Mandate time. Area 2 was difficult to survey because of its high vegetation cover. Areas 4, 9, 10, 12 and 15 were overlaid with large quantities of modern refuse. Areas 6, 11 and 13 were characterized by hamra soil that was often sandy and devoid of potsherds. Area 7 had citrus orchards and vegetation that was difficult to survey. Area 8 consisted of sandy hamra soil, covered with citrus orchards and lacking potsherds. Three sites (A–C) were documented in the survey. At Site A (map ref. NIG 18551/67058; OIG 13551/17058) a dense scattering of potsherds (diam. in excess of 10 m) that dated from the Roman until the Early Islamic periods was documented. At Site B (map ref. NIG 18575/67051; OIG 13575/17051), several roughly dressed kurkar masonry stones, scattered across a small area, were documented. At Site C (map ref. NIG 18567/67054; OIG 13567/17054) was a scant scattering of potsherds and fragments of sandstone were discerned in an area (diam. 3–5 m).