In June 2020, a trial excavation was conducted northeast of H orbat Raqiq (Permit No. A-8726; map ref. 607773–871/180693; Fig. 1) prior to infrastructure work. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Mekorot Water Company, was directed by A. Levi-Hevroni, with the assistance of D. Potsansky and A. Ben Porat (assistant excavation directors), E. Aladjem (surveying, field photography and drone photography), Y. Alamor (administration), D. Eisenberg-Degen (field photography), Y. Abadi-Reiss (flints and pottery), S. Talis (scientific guidance) and M.D. Pasternak, A. Golani, I. Milevski and L. Kolska-Horwitz (scientific consultation).
Levi-Hevroni et al. (Wed,) studied this question.