During December 2008, a salvage excavation was conducted in the western part of Jisr ez-Zarqa (Permit No. A-5561; map ref. 191636–57/715627–38), prior to construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the contractor, was directed by A. Masarwa (field photography), with the assistance of S. Ya‘aqov-Jam (administration), R. Mishayev (surveying and drafting), P. Gendelman (pottery reading) and M. Peilstöcker (guidance).
One excavation square was opened and remains of a wall that apparently bore a ceramic pipe (W10; exposed length 4 m, width 1 m; Figs. 1, 2) were exposed. The wall, oriented northeast-southwest, was preserved three courses high. It was built of dressed kurkar stones (0.2×0.4×0.4 m) that were tightly fitted against each other with gray mortar mixed with shells. The wall’s foundation was built of different size stones, founded on beach sand and tamped in hamra. Fragments of the terracotta pipe were discovered next to the wall. The pipe carried on the wall branched off from the high-level aqueduct, which dated to the Byzantine period, and it probably conveyed water to Tel Tanninim.