Area A

Two squares (A1, A2; see Fig. 3) were excavated. Sections of three walls (W101, W108, W111; Figs. 4, 5), belonging to a small building (L104) that dated to the Byzantine period (fifth–seventh centuries CE) were exposed in Square A2. Wall 111 abutted W108 from the east and formed a corner with it. Its western part did not survive but it is assumed that the wall also formed a corner in the west with Wall 101. The walls, founded on the bedrock and preserved two courses high, were built of large dressed kurkar. A section of a pavement of medium-sized kurkar stones (L105) was exposed west of W101. Sterile hamra soil, devoid of any archaeological finds, was exposed at a depth of 2 m below the surface.

Mostly jars were discovered in the small building, including baggy-shaped jars (Fig. 6:1–4) and a Gaza jar (Fig. 6:5) that dated to the fifth–seventh centuries CE, as well as a cooking pot lid that dated to the Byzantine period (Fig. 6:6).

 

Area B

Five squares (B1, B4, B6–B8; see Fig. 3) were excavated. Wall foundations (W203, W207; Figs. 7, 8) were exposed in Square B1. Wall 207 adjoined Wall 203 and formed the corners of two rooms (L205, L219). The walls were built of medium-sized dressed kurkar stones and one of their sides consisted of small kurkar stones. Both walls were founded on top of hamra fill. The few pottery vessels in the rooms dated to the Ottoman period and included a cooking krater (Fig. 9:1), a jar (Fig. 9:5) and a jar stopper with a string-cut base (Fig. 9:8). A probe was excavated near the eastern end of W203; several potsherds dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods were uncovered in the hamra fill beneath the wall, including a cooking krater (Fig. 9:2) and baggy-shaped jars (Fig. 9:3, 4). The rooms are dated to the Ottoman period based on the ceramic artifacts. The earlier potsherds were apparently washed to the site along with the alluvium.

Nine graves (L209–L217; Figs. 10, 11) were exposed in Squares B4 and B8, but not excavated. The graves, some of them rectangular, were built of three–four rows of medium and large kurkar stones. Generally oriented east–west, the graves were in all likelihood Muslim interments.

 

Squares B6 and B7 yielded no architectural remains and kurkar bedrock was exposed at their bottom (max. depth 2 m below the surface). A jug (Fig. 9:6) that dated to the Ottoman period was discovered in Square B6.

 

Area C

One square (Figs. 12, 13) was excavated and a section of a stone pavement (L303), composed of kurkar and medium-sized fieldstones, was exposed in its western side. The pavement seems to continue beyond the limits of the square. Another pavement in the eastern side of the square was built of small and medium kurkar stones, bonded with white mortar (L301). Unlike Pavement 303, Pavement 301 was not flat and presumably, it was a foundation of a vault that did not survive. The foundation was built on hamra fill and a jug (Fig. 9:7) that dated to the Ottoman period was discovered alongside it.