During November 2003, a salvage excavation was conducted at Tell Qasile (West; Permit No. A- 4033; map ref. NIG 180395–425/667640–750; OIG 130395–425/167640–750), prior to construction. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by A. Glick, with the assistance of Y. Dangor and S. Ya‘aqov-Jam (administration) and E. Ayash.
The site is located c. 400 m west of Tell Qasile. Previous excavations at the site exposed remains of an open settlement that dated to Middle Bronze IIA, tombs from Middle Bronze IIB, a tomb from the Persian period and settlement remains from the Hellenistic period, as well as quarries and installations (‘Atiqot 38:25–32, 44:5–11, 53:65–128).
A lime pavement (0.9 × 1.3 m) that was damaged due to its proximity to surface was found. No pottery was associated with the pavement and therefore, it could not be dated.
A circular pit (diam. 1.4 m, depth 1.06 m), hewn in kurkar bedrock and filled with modern debris, was discovered. At its bottom was carbonized organic material. No potsherds were found.
Circular depressions (diam. 0.56–0.76 m) hewn in soft kurkar bedrock were found. Remains of roots were in the center of most depressions and therefore it seems that they were used for tree planting. A few potsherds from MB II and the Hellenistic and Ottoman periods, as well as a single flint flake, were found on surface and in the fill of the depressions.