During August and October 2002 excavations were conducted in the vicinity of the Shavē Ziyyon cemetery (Permit No. A-3713*; map ref. NIG 20840–1/76561–2; OIG 15840–1/26561–2), in the wake of development work for a sewage system in the settlement. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, was directed by A. Thatcher, with the assistance of A. Shapiro, V. Essman and V. Pirsky (surveying), D. Syon (numismatics), Y. Lerer, R. Abu Raya, E. Stern and N. Getzov.
Two excavation areas were opened: Area A north of the cemetery and Area B to its east.
Area A
Two excavation squares (3 × 4 m; 5 × 5 m) were opened next to the northern bank of Nahal Bet Ha-‘Emeq, c. 500 m before its outlet to the sea, west of the ancient cemetery of Shavē Ziyyon (Kh. el Mallaha) and opposite the village’s modern cemetery. A segment of a tamped floor (15 × 40 m) that consisted of small stones, wadi pebbles, potsherds, sand and clay was exposed c. 0.5 m below surface; its outline and nature were not ascertained. Fragments of pottery vessels from the Roman period and an illegible coin that seems to date to the fourth century CE were found on the floor, whereas no archaeological finds were discovered below it.
Area B
A section of a wall (length 6.3 m, width 1.3 m; preserved height 0.9 m) that was built of small and medium fieldstones, with dressed stones sporadically incorporated within it, was exposed in this area (3 × 8 m). At its eastern end, the wall had a corner where it turned south, although its continuation was not excavated. Fragments of pottery vessels, medium-sized tesserae and a coin that could not be identified, but possibly dates to the fifth century CE, were found between the stones of the wall. Based on the potsherds, the wall should be dated to the Byzantine period.