In February 2015, a trial excavation was conducted at the site of ‘En Haggit and Nahal Haggit (Permit No. A-7343; map ref. 203617–54/724514–711), after ancient remains were discovered during preliminary inspections prior to the installation of a gas pipeline. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Israel Natural Gas Lines Company, Ltd., was directed by M. Massarwa (photography), with the assistance of Y. Amrani and E. Bachar (administration), R. Mishayev and R. Liron (surveying and drafting), A. Gorzalczany (scientific guidance), C. Ben Ari and A. Dagot (GPS), N. Zak (plan) and K. Sa‘id.
Five excavation squares (D3–D6, E5; Figs. 1, 2) were opened near Nahal Haggit, along the southwestern fringe of the site. Two retaining walls of agricultural terraces were discovered (W103–length c. 10 m, width c. 3 m, preserved height 0.64 m; W105–length c. 10 m, width c. 2 m, preserved height 0.4 m), seemingly two sections of one wall. The walls were oriented north–south, and built on the rock, of various-sized fieldstones with a soil fill (Figs. 3, 4). A small number of abraded pottery sherds were found in the excavation of the walls, mainly body sherds, but also a jar handle which dates the wall to the Byzantine period (fifth–sixth centuries CE). There are four springs—‘En Haggit, ‘En Tut, ‘En Qetina and ‘En Zafzafa—near the excavation area and their water was probably used for farming nearby.
In 1992–1993, excavations to the east and northeast of the current excavation uncovered settlement remains from the Middle Bronze Age II, Iron Age I and Roman period; a guard tower from the Roman period; and remains of a building and graves from the twelfth–fourteenth centuries CE (
Seligman 1997 [Fig. 1:1];
Wolff 1997a [Fig. 1:2];
Wolff 1997b [Fig. 1:3]). In 2005, excavations southeast of the current excavation exposed rock-hewn pits, apparently from the twelfth–eleventh centuries BCE; architectural remains from the Iron Age II; remains of an agricultural settlement from the Early Roman period; and tombs from the Mamluk period (
Finkielsztejn and Gorzalczany 2010 [Fig. 1:4]). Remains of a winepress, a ritual bath (
miqveh), a dwelling from the Byzantine period and a Muslim cemetery were discovered in an excavation north of the current area (Permit No. A-5105 [Fig. 1:5]) in 2007–2008. In an excavation conducted east of the excavation area in 2009, meager remains of a building were exposed, and dated to the Early Roman period (
Massarwa 2010 [Fig. 1:6]).
Finkielsztejn G. and Gorzalczany A. 2010. ‘En Tut.
HA-ESI 122.
Massarwa A. 2010. ‘En
Haggit and Na
hal
Haggit.
HA-ESI 122.
Seligman J. 1997. Nahal Haggit. ESI 16: 61–63.
Wolff S. 1997a. ‘En Haggit. ESI 16:59–60.
Wolff S. 1997b. ‘En Zafzafa. ESI 16:61.