During February 2011, a survey preceding development was conducted west of Ma‘alot-Tarshiha (License No. S-241/2011; map ref. 21754–813/76795–817), prior to construction of a cemetery. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Ma‘alot-Tarshiha municipality, was directed by Y. Lerer, with the assistance of Y. Gur and A. Shapiro (GPS).
The surveyed area (Fig. 1) was c. 500 m southwest of ‘En Ga‘aton and Horbat Ga‘aton and c. 1 km west of ‘En Merav. The area is characterized by soft limestone bedrock and is today used as an orchard. No ancient remains were discovered in the survey.