The excavation area (3

× 8 m; Fig. 1) was located on the western fringes of the tell; it was covered with refuse heaps from the Arab village that existed there until 1948. The remains of a pear-shaped hearth (L100; 0.6 × 1.1 m) were uncovered. Surrounding the hearth were pieces of burnt clay that contained straw; they probably used to line the hearth. Inside the hearth were two pottery vessels (Fig. 2), in situ, a holemouth jar (Fig. 3:1) that rested on its side and the base of a storage vessel (jar or holemouth jar; Fig. 3:2). The vessels contained several burnt animal bones and organic material. A bone implement embedded with stone blades (Fig. 3:3) was also retrieved from the hearth; it was probably used as a sickle. Judging by the finds, it seems the hearth served for cooking, and should probably be dated to the Chalcolithic period or the Early Bronze Age.