Nehusha, Agricultural moshav in Mateh Yehuda, Israel.
Nehusha is an agricultural moshav in the Mateh Yehuda region of Israel, south of Jerusalem, set on a hillside surrounded by fields and olive groves. The settlement is made up of residential homes, farming plots, and a number of rock-cut caves spread across the grounds.
Nehusha was founded in 1955 and rebuilt after being destroyed in 1981. The land holds remains from the Hasmonean, Roman, and Byzantine periods, pointing to long use of this hillside before the modern settlement arrived.
The name Nehusha comes from a biblical place called Ir-Nachash, mentioned in Chronicles, and carries a meaning related to copper or serpent. The caves scattered around the settlement are still visible in the landscape and give the place a layered, textured look that sets it apart from other moshavs.
The settlement can be explored on foot, but sturdy shoes are a good idea since some cave entrances are steep or narrow. Visiting during daylight makes it easier to find the cave openings and move safely around the rocky terrain.
Excavations have uncovered around 30 cave entrances on the grounds, including about 10 bell-shaped caves with walls covered in plaster. Plastered caves of this kind are rare in the region and suggest that people who lived here long ago put considerable effort into keeping their stored goods in good condition.
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