The survey (c. 4,800 dunams) was conducted east of the Be’er Sheva‘–Lehavim railroad line. The survey area was located on the lower western slopes of Giv‘ot Goral and was divided into four sub-areas. The two southern sub-areas extended along Nahal Karkor and its tributaries, in a region undermined by that stream’s tributaries. Nine sites (1–9) were documented in the southern areas. Bedouins reside in the southern part of these areas and cultivate most of the land in the wadi channels. The two northern sub-areas extend between Nahal Duda’im and Nahal Pehar, where twenty-three sites (1–23) were documented. The northern of these two sub-areas is mostly leveled cultivated ground. The southern of these two sub-areas stretches across a region of steep qirton hills where trees had been planted in the past. This sub-area was previously surveyed (HA-ESI 124) and the sites documented in the two surveys are not published here (Sites 1–4, 18, 19 in the northern areas).

 

The Southern Areas (Fig. 1)

1. A farming terrace wall (map ref. 181682/579542; length 15 m), aligned north–south and built of large fieldstones, three courses high.

2. A farming terrace wall (map ref. 181607/579612; length 10 m), aligned north–south and built of large fieldstones, three courses high.

3. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181547/579673). Remains of channels that were dug for the purpose of draining runoff into the cistern, were documented next to it.

4. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181131/579749; Fig. 2).  A modern concrete cover surrounds the opening. The cistern is still in use.

5. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181497/579979). A modern concrete cover surrounds the opening. The cistern is still in use.

6. Animal pen (map ref. 181802/579664; diam. 20 m) built on the southern slope of a spur. The pen’s enclosure wall was built of fieldstones and preserved 0.6 m high.

7. Remains of a watchman’s hut (map ref. 181720/579798; 4 ´ 4 m) built of fieldstones and preserved two courses high (0.3 m). Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected from the hut.

8. A farming terrace wall (map ref. 182094/579419; preserved length 3 m), aligned north–south and preserved a single course high.

9. Settlement remains (map ref. 18065/58041; 160 × 200 m; Fig. 3); about eight buildings were documented, most of which included a residential quarter with three to five rooms and a courtyard. Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected at the site.

 

The Northern Areas (Fig. 4)

5. A collapsed cave (map ref. 181152/583430) that has a hewn entrance corridor. It seems that the cave was used as a dwelling. Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected around the cave.

6. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181275/583334) with a modern concrete cover around its opening.

7.  A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181305/583349) with a modern concrete cover around its opening.

8. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181350/583442).

9. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181331/583532).

10. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181956/583736).

11. Remains of a watchman’s hut (map ref. 181871/583818; 3 × 3 m; Fig. 5) built of fieldstones and preserved to a maximum two courses high (0.5 m). Potsherds dating to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods were collected from the hut.

12. Architectural remains (map ref. 181829/583823; 3 × 6 m; Fig. 6) built of fieldstones and concrete and preserved 0.1 m high. The structure probably dates to the Ottoman period.

13. Remains of a farmhouse (map ref. 180809/583448; 15 × 15 m; Fig. 7) that was partially eroded. Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected from the site.

14. A cave (map ref. 180835/583924) that might be natural. Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected in its vicinity.

15. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 181445/583959) equipped with a modern cover on its opening.

16. Settlement remains (map ref. 180988/584995; 100 × 150 m; Fig. 8). The tops of numerous walls are visible on the surface; however, no building complexes could be discerned. The center of the site was damaged by modern work. Potsherds dating to the Iron Age and the Byzantine period were collected from the site.

17. A collapsed cave (map ref. 180639/582697; Fig. 9). A shallow depression in the ground, which is probably a courtyard, is visible in front of the cave. The cave was probably used as a dwelling. Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected from the depression in front of the cave.

20. A rock-hewn cistern (map ref. 182389/583629), probably connected to a settlement that was situated nearby (below, Site 21).

21. Settlement remains (map ref. 182370/583671; 70 × 100 m); about ten buildings, three cisterns (including the cistern at Site 20) and several caves (including the cave at Site 22) were documented. Potsherds dating to the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods were collected from the site.

22. A collapsed cave (map ref. 182328/583701). A depression in the ground enclosed within a stone fence—probably a courtyard—was discerned at the front of the cave. It seems that the cave was used as a dwelling. Potsherds from the Byzantine period were collected from the depression at the front of the cave, which was probably part of the nearby settlement (above, Site 21).

23. Remains of a watchman’s hut (map ref. 182066/583717; 3 × 3 m), built of fieldstones and preserved two courses high (0.3 m). Potsherds dating to the Byzantine period were collected from the hut.

 

Many of the sites in the survey are dated to the Byzantine period, based on the ceramic finds, and it seems that they continued to be used in the Early Islamic period as well (sixth–seventh centuries CE). Three small settlements with dwellings in some of them were documented in the survey area; caves and cisterns were observed within the precincts of one of the settlements. A farmstead, cisterns, farming terraces, an animal pen and watchman’s huts were documented in the vicinity of the settlements. The finds in the survey area are consistent with our knowledge of the agricultural hinterland around the city of Be’er Sheva‘ during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. Potsherds dating to the Iron Age were collected at one of the sites, in addition to potsherds from the Byzantine period; it is possible that there are two strata at that site. Potsherds dating to the Ottoman period were gathered at two of the sites and modern intervention was documented at several sites. It appears that the population of the Ottoman period continued to use ancient installations located in the vicinity and some of them are still being used.