The columbarium (L11; diam. 3.3 m; Figs. 2, 3) was hewn in the soft bedrock that is indigenous to the area. Its ceiling and eastern part were destroyed by mechanical equipment during construction work. The western part of the columbarium was preserved to a maximum height of c. 1.2 m and consisted of three rows of 27 small rock-hewn niches (0.3 × 0.3 m, average depth 0.2 m; Fig. 4). Twenty-four bones of a rock dove were found in situ in one of the niches, thus indicating that doves were raised there (T. Shadiel, pers. comm.). Below the niches and around the installation was a low hewn step (width 0.5 m, height 0.2 m) and the floor of the columbarium was hewn beneath it (L12). Only a few non-diagnostic pottery sherds were discovered in the accumulated earth fill inside the installation (L10).
 
Columbaria are a well-known phenomenon from surveys and excavations conducted in the Judean Shephelah, particularly in Ramat Bet Shemesh. They were used for a long time, especially in the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods, primarily for raising doves for food, to produce fertilizer and for ritual purposes (Zissu 1997; Dagan 2011:265–273). This columbarium was probably part of the agricultural system of the nearby village discovered at Horbat Zanoah. Numerous finds related to agricultural activity were discovered at Ramat Bet Shemesh. These finds are usually connected to large settlement sites.