In February 2006, a salvage excavation was conducted in the Jebel Mukkabbir neighborhood, on the northern slope of the Armon Ha-Naziv promenade (Permit No. A-4732; map ref. 22204–6/62918–22), prior to development work. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by A. Abu Dhaba‘at, was directed by Z. ‘Adawi, with the assistance of B. Touri, N. Agha (antiquities inspection), R. Abu Halaf (administration), A. Hajian (surveying), T. Sagiv (photography) and L. Barda and D. Levi (GPS).
A rectangular area (c. 25 sq m; Fig. 2) was opened c. 2 m south of a cliff formed as a result of development work which preceded the excavation. Quarrying remains from the production of building stones were exposed on the surface of the chalkbedrock (L102, L105, L106; Figs. 3, 4). It was evident from some of the chisel marks (L102, L106) that the quarrying was unfinished, probably due of the poor quality of the rock. The quarrying lines allowed us to estimate the size of some of the quarried stones (0.8 × 1.1 m in L105; 0.30 × 0.55 m west of L105).
In the northeastern part of the excavation, the remains of a wall aligned in a north–south direction (W1; length 1.2 m, width 0.2–0.3 m) was uncovered. It was built of small fieldstones and was most likely an agricultural terrace wall.
Many non-in situ finds were discovered in the fill covering the quarry, including fragments of iron nails, pieces of glass and pottery sherds dating to the Early and Late Roman periods. The fill originally eroded from the top of the slope and therefore cannot be used to date the rock-cuttings.
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