[1] Ma'ale Mahmal is the steep section, where the Incense Route overcomes the main natural obstacle in its path, the northern cliff of Ramon Crater.

This climb is one of the most difficult sections of the Incense Route, as its average width is one meter, and it requires walking in a row of both people and pack animals.

Most probably, the fundamental work of clearing the path and adapting it to regular caravan traffic was done by the Romans, who improved the ancient Nabatean route.

In 1965, a test excavation was conducted at the site by an archaeologist of the Negev District of the Antiquities Authority, Rudolf Cohen, as part of a survey of the Incense Route between Shaar Ramon and Avdat.

In this excavation, the outer western and northern walls of the stronghold were cleaned, and another building on the site damaged by archaeological looting was examined.