During September–October 2006, a trial excavation was conducted on Ha-Bonim Street in Qiryat Tiv‘on (Permit No. A-4918*; map ref. NIG 212713–34/734766–76; OIG 162713–34/234766–76), after antiquities were discovered in trial soundings. The excavation, carried out on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Benyamini family, was directed by K. Sa‘id, with the participation of S. Ya‘aqov-Jam (administration) and V. Essman (surveying).
The excavation was conducted along the southeastern slope of Qiryat Tiv‘on, c. 1 km northeast of the ancient necropolis and within the precincts of the Bet She‘arim antiquities site (north). The region abounds with rock-hewn burial caves, stone quarries and cisterns. In the past, a small quarry was exposed (HA-ESI 112:119*).
Two excavation areas were opened (10, 11; Fig. 1).
Area 10 (4.0 × 6.5 m). This area was located on the northeastern side of the plot. Remains of a quarry (L101; 2.00 × 2.50 m, depth 0.15 m) and three round pits (Loci 102–104; diam. 1.1–1.2 m, depth 0.6–0.7 m; Figs. 2, 3) hewn in bedrock were exposed.
Area 11 (2.5 × 4.0 m). This area was located on the southwestern side of the plot. Another quarry (L117; 2.85 × 3.50 m, depth 0.3 m) was exposed in which the detachment channels and the negatives of the stones that were removed from it were visible.
A round pit (L16; diam. 1.10, depth 0.7 m; Figs. 4, 5) was cut in the chalk bedrock in the quarry. The hewing of the pit had apparently been halted when the quarrymen encountered a layer of soft bedrock.
Ancient quarries and pits (silos?) that were hewn in the chalk bedrock were exposed in the excavation. The quarrying of these installations ceased when the soft and friable bedrock was reached. The meager pottery finds that were recovered include a few body sherds that dated to the Late Roman and Byzantine periods.