Three squares were opened and a probe was dug in a spot that appeared to be a cave opening, but turned out to be natural.

Square 1. A stump of a terrace wall, built in a layer of black soil (W111; 0.4 x 2.0 m), was found. It was oriented east–west and dated to the Byzantine period. A few potsherds, as well as several white tesserae (1 x 1 cm), were discovered in the alluvium that had accumulated along the southern side of the wall. A bowl of the Phoacean Red Slip Ware (Fig. 2:1), dating to the Byzantine period (sixth–seventh centuries CE), was found next to the wall.

 

Square 2. A habitation layer from the Late Hellenistic and Early Roman periods, which included the base of an in-situ vessel (Fig. 3), but no architectural remains, was exposed. The ceramic finds consisted of vessels from various periods, including cooking pots from the Early Roman period (fig. 2:3, 12), from the Roman period (Fig. 2:13) and from the end of the Persian or beginning of the Hellenistic period (Fig. 2:18, 19), jars from the Hellenistic period (Fig. 2:2, 4, 5, 7–9)' jugs from the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods (Fig. 2:6, 10, 14, 16, 17), and two lamps from the Early Islamic period (Fig. 2:20, 21).

 

Square 3. The excavation in this square reached the bedrock. A zir-type jar from the Early Islamic period (Fig. 2:11), and a cooking pot (Fig. 2:15) dating to the Roman period were found in the fill.

Although hiding refuges are known to exist in the region, a void inspected next to Square 3 turned out to be natural.