In August 2015, a salvage excavation was conducted c. 500 m north of Horbat Anusha and east of El‘ad (Permit No. A-7487; map ref. 199347-430/661735-806; Fig. 1), prior to construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, was directed by J. Marcus (field photography), with the assistance of Y. Amrani (administration), S. Krispin (preliminary inspections), A. Dagot (GPS), R. Mishayev (surveying and drafting), D.T. Ariel (numismatics) and laborers from Bir el-Maksur.
Two excavation squares were opened within the boundaries of Horbat Anusha (Fig. 2), in places where the preliminary antiquities inspections observed what seemed to have been rock-cuttings. A thin layer of hard limestone overlying soft limestone bedrock was exposed in the northern square (Fig. 3); no evidence of quarrying was noted. A few non-diagnostic pottery sherds and a bronze coin of Constantine II (fourth century CE) were discovered in the square (L104). Hard limestone and pockets of soft limestone were revealed in the southern square (Fig. 4); no signs of quarrying were noted but several abraded and non-diagnostic pottery sherds were found. The coin discovered shows that activity took place near Horbat Anusha during the Byzantine period.