During June 2001, a survey was conducted along the route of the Bet Guvrin bypass road (License No. G-14/2001; central map ref. NIG 19130/61400; OIG 14130/11400), in the wake of re-planning a section of Highway 38, slated to detour the Bet Guvrin archaeological remains. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Department of Public Works south district, was directed by Y. Dagan, with the assistance of M. Haiman and L. Barda (GPS).
The planned route of the road circumvents the Bet Guvrin police station and Qibbuz Bet Guvrin from the west, ending in the vicinity of the Nehusha Junction. The northeastern part of the planned route overlaps the route that was surveyed in 1994 (ESI 16:120–121). Although the planned road is only 30 m wide, a 200 m wide strip was surveyed in accordance with the area that is likely to be damaged when the road is paved.
Some 100 survey sites were explored, most of which were inspected in the past within the framework of the Judean Shephelah survey (Map of Bet Guvrin [107], Map of Gat [94]); however, this time they were carefully documented with the aid of GPS. The surveyed sites included farming terraces, rock-hewn caves, installations for processing agricultural produce and two limekilns.