Two adjacent excavation squares, aligned north–south, were opened (T1, T2; 4 × 8 m; Figs. 1, 2). The area was initially dug with the aid of a backhoe that had a toothless bucket. The upper layer of the manual excavation was a dark brown clay soil (thickness c. 1 m; Loci 100, 101), which contained potsherds dating to the Early Islamic period (eighth–tenth centuries CE), including a lamp fragment (Fig. 3:1) and a fragment of a zoomorphic vessel (Fig. 3:2). Below this layer was a light brown sandy soil layer that descended gently to the north (Loci 103, 104). It contained numerous scattered animal bones that belonged to at least four horses, two cattle and another animal that could not be identified with certainty, as well as potsherds from the Early Islamic period (eighth–tenth centuries CE), including bases of several glazed bowls (Fig. 4:1, 2), a rim of a bag-shaped jar (Fig. 4:3), a jar base fragment (Fig 4:4) and jug bases (Figs. 4:5–7). A very thin layer of extremely small stones (L107), similar to gravel, was exposed near the center of the excavation’s eastern side. It consisted of mixed potsherds from the Early Islamic period, including a glazed bowl (Fig. 5:1), the base of a jug (Fig 5:2) and a buff-ware handle fragment decorated with a plastic band (Fig. 5:3). A northeast-southwest trench, which had apparently been dug in the past by means of mechanical equipment, had cut through the western side of L107. Dark brown soil fill was discovered in the trench.
A small rectangular area in the southeastern part of the excavated squares (Loci 102, 106, 109; Figs. 1, 6) was dug deeper than the rest of the area. Potsherds dating to the Early Islamic period were discovered in this area, including a bowl rim (Fig 7:1), kraters (Fig. 7:2–4), a jug base (Fig. 7:5) and another base of jug or amphora, made of buff-colored clay (Fig. 7:6). Animal bones (Fig. 8.) were found on top of a small-stone layer and in-between the stones. A thin layer of beach sand was uncovered below the stone and bone level. Brown sterile virgin soil was revealed below the layer of beach in the southeastern part of the excavation.