Archeology Professor Adam Zertal identified this area as a place called Arubot during the First Temple period and as the town of Narbata during the Second Temple period. The town was also known as Arbata. The northern side of the hill has four enormous cisterns built in the same style as those in Herod’s palaces, and the surrounding walls that we can see were built around the same time, during the Hellenist-Roman period. During the Great Revolt (66-70 CE) the town surrendered and was abandoned.

The ruins of many buildings were found at the top of the tel, and the remains of a large pit reveal the geological nature of the area, specifically the layer of chalk that forms the top layer. Access to this site is by foot, via the road exiting Hermesh, and requires coordination with the IDF.