The cistern, hidden below surface debris (Fig. 1; 777.28–774.91 m), was filled up almost to its top with modern building debris that included, among other things, stamped Marseilles roof tiles (Fig. 2). Local residents claimed that the cistern had been used until the late twentieth century CE.
The top of the cistern comprised half a dome that covered half of the bedrock opening on the southern side (Fig.
3). The dome consisted of elongated lentil-like stones, held by a slab-built arch to the north that lay on the
bedrock edge. One of the arch slabs was a late twentieth century CE floor tile that allowed dating its 
construction. The top of the cistern to the north was square and built of three elongated ashlars, set directly
on bedrock or on some smaller stones that leveled the edges. A hole in bedrock, outside the northwestern
corner of the opening, enabled the collection of rain water from the floor of the courtyard. The cistern (Fig. 4) had
an elongated shape and was roughly oriented north–south. A rock-hewn bench (height c. 0.5 m above floor; Fig.
5) was in the northwestern corner, below the opening and a rock shelf was hewn in the southeastern corner
(height c. 0.9 m above floor; Fig. 6). The walls and floor of the cistern were coated with a thick layer of high-
quality plaster, composed of white lime, grog, as well as larger fragments of Marseille roof tiles that clearly
indicate the coating was done in the twentieth century CE. The plaster surface was dark green, very hard and
polished.
 
Although not connected to the cistern, the surface discovery of a Rhodian amphora handled stamp is significant of activities in the area during the Hellenistic period (Fig. 7). The inscription on the stamp is framed by a thin line and reads:
’Επὶ ’Α[νδρονεί]                 [in the year of] Andronei-
κου                                      kos
Δαλίου                                 [in the month of] Dalios
The restoration of the eponym name Androneikos is based on the style of the stamp; his year of office is set c. 132 BCE (Finkielsztejn G. 2001. Chronologie détaillée et révisée des éponymes amphoriques rhodiens de 270 à 108 avant J.-C. environ. Premier bilan [BAR Int S. 990]. Oxford. Pp. 146, 195; Pl. XIV, 8).