During September 2003, an excavation was conducted in Baqa al-Gharbiya (Permit No. A-3997*; map ref. NIG 20526–60/70262–305; OIG 15526–60/20262–305), following a survey conducted by E. Yannai in the vicinity of the electronic fence. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Ministry of Defense, was directed by S. Mahajna, with the assistance of A. Ababasa (area supervision), A. Hajian (surveying) and E. Yannai (archaeological supervision).
The remains of an olive press, quarries and a winepress were exposed in two areas.
Oil Press (L102; outer diam. 0.65 m, inner diam. 0.27 m, depth 0.18 m; Figs. 1, 2). The collecting vat (L104) was also exposed.
Square rock-cutting (L101; 0.82 × 1.20 m; Figs. 3, 4). Along the northern side of the rock-cutting was a round depression (diam. 0.55 m, depth 0.35 m), probably natural.
Quarry (L100; 2.5 × 2.5 m; Fig. 5). The quarry was hewn in nari bedrock. Stones delimited by their severance channels could be discerned in the quarry, as could the shapes of stones that had been extracted.
Winepress (depth below surface 1.3 m; Fig. 6). The collecting vat (L110; 0.75 × 1.25 m; Fig. 7) was plastered and a settling pit (diam. 0.2 m) was cut in its bottom. The wide treading floor was hewn in bedrock (L109; 1.55 × 2.70 m; Fig. 8).
Although the ceramic finds were scanty and non-diagnostic, they seem to date to the Hellenistic or Early Roman period.