Khirbet Askariya
The site is located on the outskirts of Al-Rayhan, northwest of Ramallah, approximately 5 km away. Identified in British survey sources as Khirbet Sakariyeh, it encompasses two areas separated by a 1 km distance, situated at an elevation of 650-725 meters above sea level. Also mentioned in the Survey of Western Palestine as Khirbeh Askariyya, it is referred to through recent surveys as Sakariyeh. Both locations together cover about 14 dunums.
Surrounded by various archaeological sites and valleys, it is bordered by Khirbet al-Hafna and Wadi Matar to the north, Khirbet Kefriya and Wadi Kefriya to the south, Wadi Matar to the west, and Wadi al-Naqeeb and the lands of Abu Qash to the east. Archaeological surveys indicate that the first site (south on the map) contains scattered buildings made of large, well-preserved stones, with visible entrances, openings, and a pool with canals. This ruin dates from the Hellenistic period to the Byzantine period, with the main occupation during the early Roman period (first century AD), possibly serving as a residential location for the Roman army. The second site features a large rectangular building on a hill, likely a significant farm dating from the Hellenistic period to the Mamluk era.
Between 2017 and 2018, the Department of Antiquities, in collaboration with Birzeit University and the University of Naples, Italy, undertook cleaning and excavation efforts to uncover the site's secrets and develop an archaeological park.