The number and technological sophistication of underground dovecotes reached their peak in this area, particularly at Maresha and its surroundings (see A. Kloner, “Maresha,” Qadmoniot 95–96 [1991], pp. 72–73 [Hebrew]; A. Kloner, Maresha Excavations Final Report I, Subterranean Complexes 21, 44, 70 [IAA Reports 17] [Jerusalem, 2003]. For bibliography see Boaz Zissu, “The Dovecote at Ḥorvat ‘Eleq,” in Yizhar Hirschfeld, Ramat Hanadiv Excavations: Final Report of 1984–1998 Seasons (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 2000), pp. 617–626.