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‘Atiqot 57 (2007)
ISBN 2948-040X
The Agricultural Hinterland West of Horbat Barfiliya, Modi‘in
(Hebrew, pp. 1*–27*; English summary, pp. 165–166)
Elena Kogan-Zehavi and Yehiel Zelinger
Keywords: cultivation, terraces, crops, numismatics
Horbat Barfiliya is one of the principle sites in the Modi‘in region. Surveys and salvage excavations conducted in the area revealed its agricultural nature. Two systems of irrigation were exposed; both seem to have been part of an organized initiative to establish a long-term farming enterprise. The meager pottery finds attest that the systems already existed during the later part of the Byzantine period. The rocky hills in the area were exploited for various installations, including winepresses. These operated from the end of the Hellenistic to the Ottoman periods. A cave (39C), which was first used for dwelling during the Early Bronze Age, was excavated as well, and attests to the existence of a settlement from this period in the Modi‘in region.