Underground Dwelling Complex F269 (Figs. 7, 8)
The dwelling complex, whose roof had collapsed, was unearthed in the northwest part of the southern area. It yielded hearths and abundant potsherds, flint items, stone tools and animal bones. A bell-shaped pit found near the complex (F270; Fig. 5: Section 5–5) contained intact pottery ascribed to the Ghassulian culture, including a bowl, jars and churns, as well as flint tools that included sickle blades and bifacial tools (Milevski et al. 2015).
 
Quarries and Rock-Cuttings
Sixteen quarries and rock-cuttings were discovered (Table 1), nine in the northern area (F220–F224, F226–F229) and seven in the southern area (F250, F252, F258–F260, F262, F272); most are of the courtyard and stepped quarry type (Safrai and Sasson 2001:4–7). Most of the quarries could be discerned prior to the excavation, and their bedrock floor was exposed; some contained an accumulated layer of modern soil. All of the upper quarrying steps were hewn into the nari bedrock, whereas some of the lower steps were hewn in the nari bedrock and some in the soft chalk or marl. A uniform technique for extracting the stones was used in all the quarries: separation channels (3–9 cm wide) were hewn around the stones, which were then extracted with severance channels (0.08–0.12 m wide), sometimes with the aid of an iron quarrying bar (crowbar) or a long chisel (Fink 2000:631–635). The dimensions of the undetached stones, the distances between the severance channels and the dimensions of the quarrying steps show that stone slabs and masonry blocks were extracted from the quarries. The stone slabs (0.05–0.15 m thick) were used for paving and lining walls, and their working marks were identified in Quarries F220, F227, F250 and F252. The masonry blocks came in a variety of sizes (0.20–0.35 × 0.40–0.50 × 0.60–0.80 m). The quarrying debris discovered in the quarries shows that once they were detached, the stones were dressed at the site. Marl was also extracted to manufacture mortar and lime in the Early Roman period (Gadermayr, Pintér and Weber, forthcoming). A few potsherds, including Iron Age bowls (Fig. 9:1, 2) and an Early Roman cooking pot (Fig. 9:3) and jug (Fig. 4:9) were recovered from the quarrying debris at the bottom of Quarries F222–F224. The pottery indicates that the quarries were used mainly in the Early Roman period.
 
Table 1. Quarries and Rock-Cuttings
No.
Area quarried (sq m)
Total quarrying steps
Quarrying steps
Max. quarrying depth (m)
220
10 (partially uncovered)
3
 
c. 2
221
100 (partially uncovered)
4–6
 
c. 2
222
0.5
 
 
 
223
100
6
3
c. 2
224
180 (partially uncovered)
1–6
4
1.2
226
65
4–5
2–3
1.5
227
60
4
 
1.2
228
35 (partially uncovered)
4–5
2–3
c. 2
229
c. 10 (partially uncovered)
2
 
0.4
250
60
1
 
0.45
252
60
2–3
 
0.8
258
110
1–3
 
0.5
259
12
1–2
 
0.45
260
0.77
1
 
0.23
262
6
1
 
0.4
272
20
2–3
 
0.6
 
 
Quarry F220 (Fig. 2). Only the north part of this small quarry was uncovered; its eastern part was destroyed in modern times.
 
Quarry F221 (Figs. 2, 10) is large, and its eastern side is deep. Some of the quarry walls are vertical and others are stepped with slanting severance channels. Two layers of light-colored quarrying debris separated by an accumulation of brown soil were unearthed at the bottom of the quarry. A few clusters of stones (Fig. 11) that had apparently shattered while being quarried were identified. Circular pits, probably natural, were discovered on the bedrock surface around the quarry.
 
Quarry F223 (Fig. 2) is a deep, medium-sized rectangular courtyard quarry; its northeastern part is shallower. On the north, the quarry is connected to Quarries F226 and F228, and the three are probably part of a single quarry. Except for its stepped southern wall, the quarry’s walls are vertical, suggesting that the quarry was fully exploited. Light-colored quarrying debris and a few medium-sized broken stones remained on the quarry’s floor.
 
Quarry F224 (Figs. 2, 12) is a large stepped quarry, irregular in shape. It is terraced throughout and extends to the northeast, beyond the excavation perimeters. The bedrock to the north of the quarry sloped steeply, possibly due to a streambed the cut through the rock. The northern part of the quarry was worked to a greater depth; its middle steps were quarried into soft limestone rock, and its bottom steps — into marl. Quarrying debris and a few broken stones had accumulated at the bottom of the quarry, mainly in its northern part.
 
Quarry F226 (Fig. 2) is an irregularly formed, medium-sized courtyard quarry. On the south, the quarry is connected to Quarries F223 and F227, and together with Quarry F228, which connects with Quarry F223, seem to be all part of a single quarry. Most of the quarry walls are stepped, except for a few vertical walls spanning the height of two or three steps. Within the quarry was an accumulation of quarrying debris with a few medium-sized broken stones.
 
Quarry F227 (Fig. 2). Most of its walls are stepped, and it is connected to Quarry F226 in the north. The quarry extends eastward, beyond the excavation area, and only its western part was excavated. It contained an accumulation of quarrying debris with a few medium-sized broken stones.
 
Quarry F228 (Fig. 2) is a medium-sized, quadrangular courtyard quarry connected to Quarry F223. The quarry extends westward, beyond the excavation area, and its northeastern corner was damaged by a modern trench. Most of the quarry walls are stepped, apart from a few vertical ones in the west, which are three–four steps high. Undetached stones were uncovered in the two lower quarrying steps (Fig. 13). Quarrying debris had accumulated at the bottom of the quarry.
 
Quarry F229 (Fig. 2) is a corner of this quarry, which extended westward, beyond the excavation area. It contained an accumulated mixture of light-colored quarrying debris and brown soil. The location of the quarry and the direction of the quarrying indicate that it may be the southern part of Quarry F224, which extends to its north.
 
Quarry F250 (Fig. 4) is a medium-sized stepped quarry that extends northward, beyond the excavation area.
 
Quarry F252 (Fig. 4) is a medium-sized courtyard quarry near the top of the hill’s western slope. A small amount of quarrying debris was found in its southern part. Traces of another quarry were found to its north.
 
Quarry F258 (Fig. 4) is a large, shallow quarry in the lower part of the hill’s western slope. It has seven separate quarrying areas in the nari rock; several are small and shallow. Signs of a quarrying channel are evident on the quarry floor. Within the quarry was an accumulation of light-colored quarrying debris; its upper part was mixed with modern finds.
 
Quarry F259 (Fig. 4) is a small part of a stepped quarry that extended eastward beyond the excavation area.
 
Quarry F260 (Fig. 4) is a small, quadrangular rock-cutting (0.77 × 1.00 m, max. depth 0.23 m) with a small cupmark (L260.01; diam. 0.15 m, depth 0.13 m) in its north wall. Another small cupmark (L260.02; diam. 0.14 m, depth 6 cm) was unearthed c. 1 m farther north.
 
Quarry F262 (Fig. 4) is a small quadrangular courtyard quarry on the upper part of the hill’s western slope. Signs of quarrying a severance channel can be discerned on the floor and walls of the quarry. A quarrying step was discovered farther up the slope, c. 2 m to the northeast.
 
Quarry F272 (Fig. 4) is a small stepped quarry. Uncovered on its floor are severance channels and an undetached stone block.
 
Other Finds in the Southern Area
Winepress F253 (Figs. 4; 5: Sections 1–1, 2–2; 14), hewn in the nari rock, is simple, comprising a square treading floor (2.0 × 2.2 m, depth 0.15 m) connected on its west via a channel to a rectangular collecting vat (1.0 × 1.7 m, depth 0.3 m) with a sump (diam. 0.25 m, depth 0.12 m) hewn in its center. The winepress is located on a westward slope, allowing the must to flow down the natural slope from the treading floor to the collecting vat. Four cupmarks (diam. c. 0.25 m, depth 0.15 m) uncovered around the treading floor were linked to it and to the collecting pit via narrow channels; they may have served to add liquids, or some dissolved substance, while preparing the must. No diagnostic finds were recovered from the winepress.
 
Cupmark F264 (Fig. 4) is circular (depth 0.11 m) and hewn in the middle of the hill’s western slope. Its upper part (diam. 0.13) is wider than its lower part.
 
Building F261 (Figs. 4; 5: Section 3–3) is a large rectangular building from the Ottoman and British Mandate periods. It was probably linked to the village of Malha, c. 1 km to the southwest. Traces of a tamped-earth and plaster floor were discovered inside the building. A wall (F257) that may have been part of the building was uncovered to its east. The western part of the building was constructed over the dwelling complex from the Chalcolithic period (F269).
 
Cave F265 (Fig. 4) was exposed beneath the southern part of Building F261. It was probably used as a storehouse or an animal pen when the building was in use. In recent times, an arch was built around the cave entrance, along with a wall that connected it with one of the walls of the building (L261.05; see Fig. 5: Section 4–4). The cave was not explored due to a directive from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
 
Cistern F266 (Figs. 4; Fig. 5: Section 6–6; 15) is elliptical (c. 4 × 7 m) and plastered. It contained alluvial soil and modern debris. The water cistern, which was not excavated, may have been used by the occupants of the nearby building (F261).
 
Natural pits. Nine natural pits were discovered: F225 (in the northern area), F251, F254–F256, F263, F267, F268 and F271.