Remains dating to Early Bronze Age III, Middle Bronze Age II, Iron Age I and II and the Persian period were discovered on the tell in an excavation conducted in 1992 (‘Atiqot 44: 143–170). Remains that dated to Early Bronze Age II and III were discovered in an excavation conducted in 1995 along the northern part of the tell (‘Atiqot 44:97–138). Two small excavations were carried out on the tell in recent years; a cave and a meager amount of pottery from the Roman period (HA-ESI 118) and stones and pottery (HA-ESI 120) were discovered. A survey previously performed on the tell documented farming terrace walls, wall remains that might be a fortification and a rock-hewn winepress; potsherds ranging in date from the Chalcolithic to the Byzantine periods was collected (Map of Har Tavor [41], Site 13).

Two squares (E1, E2; Figs. 1, 2) were excavated along the western slope of Tel Gat Hefer; architectural remains and numerous potsherds from the Early Bronze, Middle Bronze and Iron Ages were exposed.

 

Square E1. At a depth of c. 0.5 m below the surface, a large accumulation of pottery fragments was exposed, mostly dating to Early Bronze Age III and some to Middle Bronze Age II, the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age II. Below the potsherd accumulation was a crushed chalk floor (L105; Fig. 3) that apparently extended across the entire area of the square. Excavating a probe in the northern part of the chalk floor (L110) ascertained that the floor (thickness c. 0.1 m) sloped toward the north. Fragments of pottery vessels dating to Early Bronze Age III, Middle Bronze Age II and Iron Age II were discovered in the probe.

 

Square E2. The top of a wide wall that crossed the square (W109; width c. 2.5 m; Fig. 4) was exposed. Presumably, the northern side of the wall was located beyond the northern boundary of the square. Excavating a probe next to the southern side of W109 (L104, L107; Fig. 5) revealed an accumulation of soil that contained fragments of pottery vessels from Early Bronze Age III, Middle Bronze Age II and Iron Age II. Stones that might be the end of a wall were exposed west of the probe.

 

The considerable ceramic finds from Squares E1 and E2 were mostly probably swept into the excavation area. These finds, which are contemporary to the finds from the previous excavations, include a bowl (Fig. 6:1), a platter (Fig. 6:2), a holemouth jar (Fig. 6:3) and three jars (Fig. 6:4–6), dating to Early Bronze Age III, three jars (Fig. 6:7–9), dating to Middle Bronze Age II, and a bowl (Fig. 6:10), a cooking pot (Fig. 6:11) and a jar (Fig. 6:12), dating to Iron Age II.

 

The wide wall exposed in the excavation might be part of the system of fortifications of the city on the tell in Early Bronze Age III and the tamped chalk floor might have been associated with it.