The Kh. Abu Rish site (map coordinates 10759:16270) was excavated in 1990 and 1992. The excavation (Judea and Samaria Archaeological Staff Officer Permit 544) was carried out with the participation of A.A Rejub, E. Merman (drafting), K. Trebakov (drawings), and S. Amami (photos).

It is situated in the eastern part of the ‘Anun valley, north-east of Hebron, near the intersection of two ancient roads: Teqo‘a-Mount Hebron, and Aloné Mamré-Bani Na‘im (Hirschfeld 1980: 78-84). The valley and Beit ‘Anun village preserve the biblical name Beth-anoth (Joshua 15:59).

The ‘Anun valley which separates the Hebron Mountains from the
Judean Desert is one of the most fertile areas in the Hebron region, with
several large springs. The many rock-cut water cisterns attest the agricultural character of the settlement there. Archaeological surveys in the valley revealed a continuum of settlement from the Chalcolithic period to the present time (Kochavi 1972: 56-58). The settled population in the ‘Anun valley reached a zenith in the Byzantine period, when three churches were built there (Magen 1990: 275-286; 1992).

The site comprises a large structure showing three building phases; a large courtyard adjacent to it to the south, with a water cistern that was at some point converted to a cellar; on the east, a large winepressing installation delimited by walls, and several tombs; a second wine-press, east of the structure; and a water cistern, about 50 m south of the courtyard.