Horvat 'Ethri

The site sits upon an elevation of above sea level. It is located southeast of Bet Shemesh, within the Adullam-France Park – c. southwest of Jerusalem, southeast of the Elah Valley and northeast of Beth Guvrin. == Excavations ==

A rescue excavation was carried out at Hurvat Ethri in 1999–2000 on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) following a long-running looting at the site. Its purpose was to uncover the ancient remains and make the site accessible to tourists. As early as 2004, excavations were conducted on the site by Amir Ganor and Sari Eliyahu. In 2016, an additional survey-excavation was made of the site by Eitan Klein, Amir Ganor, and G. Goldenberg on behalf of the IAA. ==History==

Persian period (Phase I) The site was first occupied during the late Persian period; artifacts of the period include Yehud coins, a coin minted in Babylon and two fakes of Athenian coins. Based on a potsherd found at the site bearing the name "Ethri", and the village's size on the eve of the revolt, it has been suggested that the site should be identified with Caphethra, a village on the Judaean Foothills mentioned by Josephus as destroyed during a campaign by units of the Legio V Macedonica in the area in 69 CE. ==Name==

Formerly known in Arabic as Umm Suweid ("mother of the buckthorns"), the Modern Hebrew name of the site was only applied in March 2001 by the Israel Official Names Commission, after a team of IAA archaeologists discovered an ostracon bearing the name "Ethri," thought to be a reference to the a town described by Josephus and whom he names "Caphethra" – likely a Greek corruption of the Hebrew name Kfar Ethra, "Ethra Village". == Gallery ==

File:Atri IMG 5759.JPG|Recreation of what some of the structures may have looked like. File:Atri IMG 5763.JPG|Archaeological remains. File:PikiWiki Israel 20057 Archeological sites of Israel.jpg|Ancient Jewish Mikveh uncovered at the site. File:Black & White Itri.jpg|Ruin of Hurvat Itri File:Entrance to chamber.jpg|Entrance to cavern File:Entranceway to ruined house.jpg|Entranceway to ruined house File:Entranceway.jpg|Sealed entrance in Hurvat Itri File:General view of Hurvat Itri.jpg|Ruins of Hurvat Itri File:Stone walls.jpg|Stone wall File:The Ruins of Itri.jpg|Black & white photograph of ruins in Hurvat Itri, Judean mountains File:View of Itri ruins (Israel).jpg|View of Itri ruins ==See also==