During April 2002 a trial excavation was conducted at Tal Shahar, c. 700 m north of Nahal Soreq (Permit No. A-3628*; map ref. NIG 19045–50/6331–3; OIG 14045–50/1331–3), prior to the renovation of the railroad track. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Israel Railroad Authority, was directed by I. Milevski, with the assistance of H. Lavi (administration), J. Seligman, Z. Greenhut and D. Weiss (Jerusalem District) and laborers from Rahat.
Three squares (4 × 4 m) were opened 10 m apart and four probe trenches (c. 1 × 4 m) were dug by a backhoe close to the squares. A layer of gray-dark brown alluvium, containing potsherds from the Early, Intermediate and Middle Bronze Ages and the Roman-Byzantine periods, as well as several flint implements, was discovered in the squares. Potsherds and flint implements were found above a surface layer that overlaid the alluvium layer. The middle and western parts of the excavation were covered with modern refuse.
A layer of alluvium was exposed in the probe trenches at a depth of c. 1 m. It overlaid a layer of sterile reddish clay soil at a depth of c. 3.0–3.5 m. Bedrock was uncovered below the clay layer in one of the trenches.
No remains of a building, settlement or occupation layer were discovered. The potsherds and flint implements were probably swept from the surrounding sites unto the alluvium layer.