Location & Identification

Khirbet er-Rasm is a small rural site located approximately 1 km south-southwest of Tel ‘Azekah, in the upper Shephelah. It is characterized by a concentration of ruins on a hill, surrounded by various walls, terraces, and caves. The site is not identified with any known historical sites.

History

Towards the end of the Iron Age, under the Kingdom of Judah, a large building with several rooms was erected on the site, which may have been used as a royal estate. Only a few remains of use from the Persian period (332-539 BCE) were also discovered, unclear whether they represent a continuation of the previous period or a temporary settlement. The site was restored at the beginning of the Hellenistic century (4th century BCE), probably by the Idumeans. In the 2nd century BCE, the site was destroyed, most likely by the Hasmoneans, and remained in ruin until the 1st century CE (Early Roman period), when it was resettled once more, possibly by Jews.

History of Excavations

The site was excavated and surveyed between 1997 and 2003, focusing on the main building and surrounding areas. The excavations were conducted by Avraham Faust and Adi Erlich and included a detailed survey of the caves in the area.

Important Findings

Iron Age

A few artifacts from the Iron Age I (12th-10th centuries BCE) were discovered at the site

Hellenistic Period

The excavations revealed insights into the site’s function, such as its role as an inn rather than a farmstead, based on petrographic thin-section analysis of cooking pots and the varied origins of ceramic wares. The pottery was found to be local in nature, and the site’s location on a major road junction indicated its use by numerous guests. Coins from various mints, including Alexandria and Jerusalem, reflected travel patterns.

Sources

The Excavations of Khirbet er-Rasm, Israel by Avraham Faust and Adi Erlich