Subterranean Spaces outside Tel Yarmut—Evidence of Early EB IB Burials, EB III Dwellings and Agricultural Activities

Tel Yarmut is located on a natural hill that overlooks Naḥal Yarmut, Ramat Bet Shemesh’s main water source (Fig. 1), which was probably a perennial source in ancient times (see, e.g., Dagan 2011:243). The area north and east of the mound, adjacent to Naḥal Yarmut’s streambed, was used for both agriculture and grazing from prehistoric to modern times. A survey that Dagan conducted during the 1990s revealed dozens of findspots of Early Bronze pottery and flints, located mainly adjacent to the stream, on its northern side (Dagan 2011:243). Dagan found also several burial caves dated to EB III and others