Three excavation areas (A–C) were distinguished according to variations in the spatial configuration of angular fragments, the artifacts’ density and lithic affinities.
Area A (18 sq m) was the western most part of the excavation. Its stratigraphy complied with that of the general site. The angular fragments in this area formed two continuous horizons; the first was exposed over 12 sq m at least, as it continued to the north, south and west. The density in this horizon was c. 350 angular fragments per 1 sq m, having a thickness (c. 0.1 m) of a single fragment. Three meters apart was a smaller-sized horizon (c. 3 sq m), wherein a burial was uncovered (Fig. 3). The stony layer contained few animal bones, clay lumps and a rich lithic assemblage (Tables 1 and 2).
The burial (MNI=2) in the second continuous horizon had a large and long triangular slab (length c. 0.4 m) placed at the bottom of the grave. The first individual is 10–15 years of age, of unknown gender and the second is probably a woman of c. 20 years of age. The burial is represented mainly by long bones without the skulls, which have been removed in antiquity. The burial is a secondary burial (Fig. 4). Three complete ground-stone tools were found adjacent to the burial. These included a complete pestle and two basalt hand stones (Fig. 5). Since no similar finds were discovered in the other excavation areas, it is suggested that these ground-stone tools served as burial offerings.
Area B (11 sq m): The angular fragments were missing here and the only lithics were recovered mainly from the layer (thickness 0.1–0.2 m) above the bedrock. 
Area C (6 sq m): The stratigraphy in this area complied with the general site’s stratigraphy. The stony layer is manifested in relatively low density patches (c.150/sq m), without any clear spatial patterning (Fig. 6). Only a few animal bones were found with the angular fragments, as well as minute frequencies of clay lumps and a few broken ground-stones.
 
The lithic assemblage recovered from the excavation is dominated by flake production, both in debitage and in the tool component (Tables 1 and 2). Another important aspect of the assemblage is that in all phases of the bifacial reduction sequence, including the distinctive tranchet spalls, typical of the PPNA, are present at the site, mainly in Area A (Fig. 7). Diagnostic PPNA tool types are two Salabiya points and a single el-Khiam point. The tool repertoire also included retouched flakes, burins and sickle blades (Table 2).
 
Table 1. General breakdown of the lithic assemblage
 
Area A
Area B
Area C
Total
  N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%
Primary elements
426
17.3
192
17.0
388
17.6
1006
17.1
Flakes
1202
48.8
705
62.3
1282
58.2
3189
54.2
Blades
67
2.7
26
2.3
41
1.9
134
2.3
Bladelets
98
4.0
50
4.4
80
3.6
228
3.9
primary blade 
37
1.5
11
1.0
32
1.5
80
1.4
Thinning flakes
171
6.9
37
3.3
124
5.6
332
5.6
Tranchet flakes
51
2.1
11
1.0
20
0.9
82
1.4
Core trimming elements
98
4.0
40
3.5
83
3.8
303
5.2
Tools
189
7.7
49
4.3
118
5.4
356
6.1
Cores
115
4.7
8
0.7
31
1.4
154
2.6
Hammer stones
7
0.3
3
0.3
5
0.2
15
0.3
Total
2461
100
1132
100
2204
100
5879
100
 
Table 2. Tool breakdown 
 
Area A
Area B
Area C
Total
 
N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%
Projectile points
2
1.1
-
-
2
1.7
4
1.1
Perforators
7
3.7
2
4.1
5
4.2
14
3.9
Sickle blades
11
5.8
2
4.1
3
2.5
16
4.5
Retouched Blades/Bladelets
20
10.6
8
16.3
10
8.5
38
10.7
Microliths
0
0.0
-
-
3
2.5
3
0.8
Scrapers
10
5.3
3
6.1
11
9.3
24
6.7
Burins
31
16.4
5
10.2
12
10.2
48
13.5
Notches and denticulates
8
4.2
2
4.1
15
12.7
25
7.0
Multiple tools
10
5.3
2
4.1
3
2.5
15
4.2
Retouched flakes
47
24.9
18
36.7
41
34.7
106
29.8
Truncated flakes
5
2.6
2
4.1
4
3.4
11
3.1
Varia
5
2.6
1
2.0
2
1.7
8
2.2
Bifaces
33
17.5
4
8.2
7
5.9
44
12.4
Total
189
100.0
49
100.0
118
100.0
356
100.0
 
The identified animal species included gazelle (Gazella gazella), wild boar (Sus scrofa), cape hare (Lepus capensis) and a fox (Vulpes vulpes).
 
The excavation of Bir el-Maksur exposed a single-period site dating to Pre Pottery Neolithic A, with clear spatial organization, as manifested in the differences between Areas A and C. Area A comprised two dense continuous horizons, together with a multiple burial, accompanied by grinding tools as burial offerings. Most of the bifaces from all the reduction phases appear in Area A, whereas in Area C, the angular fragments do not appear in clear clustering and the bifaces are fewer and more fragmented
The site of Bir el-Maksur is the only PPNA site that has been excavated in the Galilee. The position of the site within the settlement pattern of the PPNA is intriguing. On the one hand, no substantial architectural remains were found, only paved surfaces. Yet, on the other hand, the lithic assemblage reflects varied activities, as it contained not only bifacial reduction sequence, but also sickle blades—evidence of plant processing resources, and a very diverse tool repertoire. The burial adds yet another complexity to the question how ephemeral was the habitation at the site. The results of the excavation contribute new data concerning subsistence strategies and settlement patterns of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A period in the Galilee. It is particularly important due to the absence of sites from this time span in the region.