A square tower built in the Hellenistic-Hasmonean style was recently exposed during work in the area of the western Samarian Palestinian Authority village of Deir Abu Mash'al.
The discovery of the fortress joins a series of archaeological discoveries uncovered in recent years throughout the country that support literary descriptions of the Hasmonean revolt. Since its exposure, the site has been subject to systematic excavations and robberies, and due to its location in Area B, under Palestinian civilian control, so the destruction cannot be stopped by Israel.