In 1838, in the
Ottoman era,
Berkusia was noted as
Muslim village in the Gaza area, and being "somewhat larger" than
Bil'in. In 1863,
Victor Guérin found the village to have about 150 inhabitants. He further noted that it was situated on a low hill, with fig trees to the north. An official Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed that
Berkusja had 28 houses and a population of 72, though the population count included men, only. In 1882 the
PEF's
Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village of moderate size, on a hill in a conspicuous position. The houses are of
mud and stone. There is a fine
well, resembling that of
Summeil, west of the village, and rock-cut tombs to the south-west." In 1896 the population of Berkusja was estimated to be about 171 persons.
British Mandate era In the
1922 census of Palestine conducted by the
British Mandate authorities, Barqusya had a population of 198 inhabitants, all Muslims, increasing in the
1931 census 258 inhabitants, in 53 houses. In the
1945 statistics, it had a population of 330 Muslim inhabitants, while 31 dunams were built-up (urban) land.
1948 and aftermath It was depopulated during the
1948 Arab-Israeli War on July 9, 1948, as part of
Operation An-Far. In 1992 the village site was described: "No houses remain. Some graves can be seen amidst foxtail and khubbayza (mallow) plants. One of the graves has an inscribed tombstone resting on the superstructure. There are also the remnants of a
well. Cactuses and a variety of trees, including palms grow on the site. The site serves as grazing grounds for Israeli farmers who also grow grapes and the fruits." ==References==