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‘Atiqot 64 (2010)
ISBN 2948-040X
Archaeological Surveys and Excavations along the Cross-Israel Highway: A Case Study for Data Collection from the Field
(Hebrew, pp. 3*–61*; English summary, pp. 153–155)
Yehuda Dagan
Keywords: survey methods, geographical regions, settlement dispersion
The archaeological surveys and excavations along the Cross-Israel Highway provide for a rare opportunity to examine data retrieved from surveys versus excavation results. A total of 125 sites, dispersed over five different geographical regions, were documented, including settlements, installations, quarries, burial caves and ancient roads. The vast data acquired along the route provides invaluable information concerning settlement patterns and distribution throughout various periods. It is noteworthy that most of the excavation results mirrored those of the surveys. However, sites dating to the prehistoric and Chalcolithic periods, as well as the Intermediate Bronze Age, were often unnoticed in the surveys and they were detected only in probes. Following the survey and excavation results several sites were saved from destruction and preserved for generations to come.