In 1875 Victor Guérin described it: "In the middle of a deep and broad ravine the Wady el-Hadjr, a sort of rocky islet lying north and south. Oblong and narrow, it serves as the site of a village called Kh. Selem, which contains a population of 130 Metawileh."[3]
He further noted: "Here are found the remains of an ancient church, such as cut stones, shafts more or less broken, and a circular baptismal font. Here I also saw several Greek crosses engraved on lintels of doors, cisterns, presses cut in the rock, and even some houses still standing which may be older than the Mussulman invasion."[4]
In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village, built of stone, containing 200 Metawileh, on ridge, with spring and cisterns ; arable cultivation around."[5]
They further noted: "South of the village there is a level area of rock, in the middle of which one column is standing. Another column and two or three pedestals form part of a wall on the west. There are no capitals. This was probably a Christian church. The columns are not well dressed."[6]