A salvage excavation was conducted in December 1998 west of the Sheqef–Negohot road, in the western Judean Mountains (L-828; map ref. NIG 19475/60075; OIG 14475/10075), prior to paving. The excavation, on behalf of the Archaeological Staff Officer of Judea and Samaria, was directed by Y. Feller, assisted by P. Portnov (surveying and drafting) and S. Ammami (photography).
A hewn cave and a winepress to its north (Fig. 1) were exposed on the northern slope of a spur, descending to the west. The cave included a narrow corridor (L100; length 1.9 m, width 0.6 m) with eight steps, descending into an oval chamber (L101; 4.85
× 5.90 m, max. height 1.92 m). A trial square (1.2 × 1.5 m) excavated inside the cave revealed several layers of alluvium and stones (thickness 0.86 m), overlying a layer of chalk (average thickness 0.2 m) that covered the bedrock floor of the cave. Several body fragments of jars, dating to the Byzantine period, were discovered in the cave.
The winepress was located c. 1.5 m north of the cave. It consisted of a square treading surface (L102; 2.20 × 2.25 m, depth 0.14 m) from which two conduits (width c. 0.15 m) led to a rectangular collecting vat (L103; 0.95 × 1.74 m, depth 0.9 m). Plaster remains were traced in the collecting vat and a step (0.30 × 0.35 m, height 0.21 m) was hewn in its western side.