Between the years 2011–2019, five archaeological excavations were conducted at H orbat T evet, at the northeastern edge of ‘Afula (map ref. 231450 –679 /726985 – 7141; Fig. 1). The excavations (1–5) were carried out in different parts of the site: (1) In December 2011 – January 2012, a trial excavation carried out (Permit No. A-6134; Areas A, C ) prior to the construction of the ‘Afula bypass Road 65. The excavation was underwritten by the National Transport Infrastructure Company Ltd. and directed by K. Covello-Paran, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, with the assistance of O. Zidan and I. Bisharat (area supervisors), Y. Ya‘aqobi (administration), R. Mishayev (drafting and surveying), Y. Bibas and C. Amit (photography), Sky View Photography Ltd. (aerial photography), H. Tahan-Rosen (finds drawing), A. Shapiro (GPS and maps), D. Syon (metal detection), E. Arie (pottery consultation ) and I. E. Delerson (plans). (2) In July 2018, a salvage excavation conducted (Permit No. B-467/2018; Areas D, E ) prior to the installation of infrastructure for a natural gas pipeline. The excavation was financed by the Israel Natural Gas Lines Ltd. and undertaken by the Israeli Institute of Archaeology, under the direction of O. Sergi, with the assistance of A. Cohen-Klonymus and J. Parker (area supervisors), A. Solloway (administration), S. Emmanuilov and M. Kahan (surveying), R. Kalisher (physical anthropology), J. Parker (assistant area supervisor and photography), M. Cavanagh (photography ) and B. Gross (logistics and assistance). (3) In October 2018–January 2019, a trial excavation carried out ( Permit Nos . A-8359, A-8623; Areas F, G ) prior to the construction of the drainage channel for a municipal road. The excavation was financed by the Israel Lands Administration and undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, under the direction of Y. Tsur, with the assistance of K. Covello-Paran, O. Sergi and R. Be’eri (scientific guidance), A. Najar and Y. Harel (area supervisors), Y. Laban and Y. Ya‘aqobi (administration), E. Kamaisky (field restoration), G. Haklay (groundstone sorting), R. Mishayev and M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), A. Peretz (photography), M. Peleg, A. Wiegmann and A.E. Ibrahim (aerial photography and photogrammetry), A. Amir (ORA sampling), Y. Vaknin (paleomagnetic sampling), Y. Asscher (analytic field lab ) and B. Hanna (district archaeologist). (4) In March–July 2019, a salvage excavation carried out (Permit No. B-475/2019; Areas A–C ) prior to the construction of ‘Afula bypass Road 65. The excavation was underwritten by the National Transport Infrastructure Company Ltd. and carried out by the Israeli Institute of Archaeology, under the direction of O. Sergi and R. Lindeman, with the assistance of M. Butcher, J. Weitzel, E. Hall, L. Torbatti and A. Shockley (area supervisors), Y. Kondo (administration), S. Emmanuilov (surveying), M. Cavanagh, A. Wiegmann and A.E. Ibrahim (photography and photogrammetry), Y. Vaknin (paleomagnetic sampling) and A. Amir (ORA sampling), with further assistance by M. Hemed, H. Maynard, D. Medellin Martinez, R. Lewis and G. Mavronanos. (5) In A pril 2022, a t rial excavation carried out (Permit No. A-9 249; Area H) prior to the construction of the drainage channel for a municipal road. The excavation was financed by the ‘Afula Municipality and undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, under the direction of Y. Tsur, with the assistance of K. Covello-Paran (scientific guidance), Y. Ya‘aqobi (administration), A. Wiegmann (photogrammetry ) and B. Hanna district archaeologist.
Covello-Paran et al. (Tue,) studied this question.