In October 2020, a trial excavation was conducted at Giv‘ot Reved in Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater; Permit No. A-8849; map ref. 184884/503687; Fig. 1), prior to the installation of an electricity pylon. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Israel Electric Corporation, was directed by T. Sapir (field photography), with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), E. Aladjem (surveying, field and aerial photography), I. Azoulay (mapping and plans), A. Golani (scientific guidance), G. Seriy and A. Rasiuk.
The excavation took place on the northern bank of a streambed, on a high rock terrace where the collapsed entrance to a natural rock shelter was discerned. Part of the entrance area was examined, but no evidence of human activity was found. Stone heaps and a round surface were identified on the ground nearby. Previous archaeological explorations in the area include a survey (Rosen and Golan 2016) and an excavation in which remains of Roman camps were discovered (Rosen 1991).
Four stone heaps composed of fieldstones of various sizes were excavated and dismantled (Fig. 2); a couple of heaps were piled on top of a stone circle, built mostly to a height of one course. Beside the heaps was a round earthen surface (diam. 5 m) demarcated with large and medium-sized fieldstones. Neither the heaps nor the surface yielded any finds, but fragments of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman pottery (not drawn) were collected from the terrace’s bedrock surface. It seems that the site, like other sites in the Giv‘ot Reved area, was used in various periods as a campsite with temporary shelters.
Rosen S. 1992. Giv‘ot Reved. ESI 10:47.