The site was excavated during a six month period in 2000-2001, following the construction of the Cross Israel Highway. Two main settlements were uncovered: (1) a village from the Early Roman period (1st to the beginning of the 2nd centuries CE) and (2) a settlement from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods (6th-8th centuries CE) that probably served as a Khan.

In the south of the excavated area, three walls were visible on the surface, enclosing an area of 140 square meters. Eight ritual bathhouses (miqva’ot), hiding complexes and a large number of stone vessels attest to the Jewish population. The miqva’ot,  of various shapes and sizes, were scattered throughout the area, though all were close to water cisterns. The miqva’ot were evidently built according to religious specifications (Halakha): they were filled with rainwater, their volume was at least 40 seah and they were at least 3 cubits deep. These were apparently  private miqva’ot,  serving individual households.

The majority of the hiding complexes date to the days of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Their dispersal and small dimensions (as opposed to those found in the Shephelah area) point to the possibility that these were carved underneath private houses. It seems that these complexes were later used for other purposes too. The largest hiding complex excavated in this area was 20 meters long, comprising six rooms.

 

The finds in the hiding complexes and in the miqva’ot included complete vessels and a many fragments. Several of the vessels are imitations of imported vessels, but most are locally-produced dating from the second century CE – the days of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Two important finds are a coin from the reign of Hadrian and a fragment of a glass bowl, similar to the one found in the Cave of the Letters in the Judean Desert – both dating from the days of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Also found was a Hebrew inscription “בר מסבלא” on a pottery fragment – the same name as mentioned in texts from the Cave of the Letters -- and a figurine dating to the third century CE, which was probably produced in the workshop of  Bet Nattif.

These remains are located in the northern area of the site. There were also an oil press from the sixth century CE, and an arched pool from the Early Islamic period. It seems that these later finds are part of a larger building complex (Khan), which was unearthed during excavations on behalf of the Ben Gurion University.