During late December 2008–early January 2009, a 5-day salvage excavation was conducted in the new cemetery on Ezekiel Street in Ramla (Permit No. A-5564; map ref. 187177–89/647467–79), after ancient remains were discovered during a preliminary inspection. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Ramla Religious Council, was directed by E. Oren (field photography), with the assistance of E. Bachar (administration) and A. Hajian (surveying and drafting).
A wall (W12; exposed length 1.65 m; Fig. 2) was discovered at a depth of 0.85 m below surface. It was carelessly built of medium-sized fieldstones that were placed on a foundation of small stones set atop hamra. The wall was damaged during the excavation and some of its stones from the northern part were removed; the wall was preserved a single course high. A thick layer of charcoal and ash (L14; Fig. 3) abutted the wall from the east; the charcoal and ash may be connected to an installation that was not preserved or an installation that was situated east of the excavation square, possibly a large oven or a charcoal kiln. Another wall (W19; exposed length 0.5 m) was exposed south of W12, at a depth of 0.9 m below surface; only two of its stones were preserved. A thick light gray plaster floor (L18) abutted the southern side of W19. A probe excavated in the northwestern corner of the square (L17) yielded no other remains below the level of Floor 18. The finds recovered from the excavation included a few potsherds that dated to the Ottoman period and the British Mandate era, as well as some scrap metal and broken glass.