in 1881, the palestine exploration fund's "survey of western palestine" (swp) described it as a large village situated on high ground that was rough and uncultivated. the villagers, whose number was estimated to be 1,500 (in 1859), cultivated some 30 faddans. a population list from about 1887 showed that "mi'ar" had about 480 inhabitants; all muslims. an elementary school was founded by the ottomans in 1888, however, it closed its doors in the final years of the empire.