During November 2001, a salvage excavation was conducted at Horbat Tirat Tamra (Permit No. A-3518; map ref. NIG 216240–45/750835–40; OIG 166240–45/250835–40). The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by H. Tahan, with the assistance of A. Thatcher (area supervision), V. Essman (surveying), A. Hajian (drafting), E.J. Stern (pottery reading) and Y. Gorin-Rosen (glass finds).
The corner of a large building was exposed on the southern slope of the site (Fig. 1).
Two squares, in the southeast (4.5 × 7.0 m) and the north (4.0 × 4.5 m) of the building, along the continuation of the eastern wall (W10), were opened.
The walls of the building, preserved six courses high (2 m), were built of roughly hewn medium-sized stones. Walls 10 and 13 were built on a foundation of stone and earth above bedrock.
Two perpendicular walls (W12, W15) inside the building were probably used to partition the structure into rooms.
Numerous potsherds and a few glass vessels were found, including a cooking pot (Fig. 2:1) from the Hellenistic period; a bowl (Fig. 2:2) and jars (Fig. 2:3, 4) from the Early Roman period; bowls (Fig. 2:5–8) and a cooking pot (Fig. 2:9) from the Byzantine period; a bowl (Fig. 2:10) and a jar (Fig. 2:11) from the Early Islamic period; bowls (Fig. 2:12–14) from the Crusader period; bowls (Fig. 2:15–17); a juglet (Fig. 2:18) from the Mamluk period and bowls (Fig. 2:19–21) and a pipe (Fig. 2:21) from the Ottoman period.
Potsherds from all these periods were also found on the bedrock and next to the foundations; based on the latest potsherds, the structure can be dated to the Ottoman period.