During October 2003, a salvage excavation was conducted along the northern slope of Tell el-Ful (Permit No. A-4013*; map ref. NIG 22192–200/63710–14; OIG 17192–200/13710–14; Fig. 1), in the wake of damage to antiquities. The excavation, carried out on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by S. Fadal, was directed by R. Avner (photography), with the assistance of V. Essman and V. Pirsky (surveying), A. Pikovsky (pottery drawing) and D.T. Ariel (numismatics).
Artifacts dating to the time of the Second Temple (first century BCE) were discovered in the excavation area (Fig. 2).
A wall (W2; length 4 m) was discovered in the west of the area, built of ashlar stones with plaster remains preserved on the eastern side at its southern end. The wall extended along the balk and therefore, it was impossible to ascertain its width. A gray-plastered floor (L2; thickness 6 cm), which abutted W2, was laid directly on bedrock. The floor extended below the eastern and southern balks and was not preserved in the southeastern part. A probe excavated below the floor (L5) and down to bedrock was devoid of any potsherds.
The potsherds on the floor dated to the first century BCE and included a bowl (Fig. 3:1), a cooking pot (Fig. 3:2), jars (Fig. 3:3–5), a juglet (Fig. 3:6) and a pinched lamp (Fig. 3:7). A coin from the reign of Alexander Jannaeus (IAA No. 111868) was found as well.