During May–June 2000 a survey was conducted along Highway 45 (License No. G-61/2000*; map ref. NIG 1990–2016/6463–80; OIG 1490–1516/1463–80), prior to paving. The survey, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, was carried out by M. Haiman, V. Zbenovich and L. Barda.
The surveyed area (c. 8 km long, 200 m wide) passes through Horbat Ha-Gardi (Kh. El-Gharbawi; map ref. NIG 2000/6487; OIG 1500/1487). The principal antiquities documented in the ruin included structures built of dressed stones, architectural elements, such as a column fragment, hewn arcosolia and burial caves, some with an entrance shaft and others with a vertical façade. Also recorded were quarries, a square rock-cut reservoir (4 x 4 m), hewn circular vats (diam. c. 0.8 m, depth c. 0.4 m) and water cisterns. The ceramic finds consisted of pottery fragments from Iron Age II and the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.
A concentration of pottery fragments dating to Early Bronze Age I and Middle Bronze Age I was documented on the slope to the east of the ruin. Six winepresses, a watchman’s tower built of large stones, field terraces, a limekiln, a water cistern, cairns and cupmarks were documented along the highway until Ne’ot Qedumim.