During May 2004 a salvage excavation was conducted next to the western approaches of Budrus (Permit No. A-4172*; map ref. NIG 19880–900/65250–73; OIG 14880–900/15250–73), in the wake of the separation fence construction. The excavation, carried out on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Ministry of Defense, was directed by A. Re’em, with the assistance of T. Kanias (area supervision), E. Bachar (administration), V. Essman and V. Pirsky (surveying and drafting), T. Sagiv (photography) and J. Sharvit (coordinator of the separation fence),
Meager remains were exposed in three areas (Fig. 1).
Area A (Fig. 2). A trial square was opened around an elliptically shaped concentration of small fieldstones that were probably stone clearance, placed on a fill of alluvium, c. 0.3 m above bedrock and lacking datable finds.
Area B (Fig. 3). A trial square was opened next to the southern side of a road, running east–west. A curbstone wall (L6) built of a single course of medium fieldstones founded on bedrock was discovered. A layer of alluvium (L7), devoid of any datable finds, abutted the wall.
Area C (Figs. 4, 5). Three squares were opened following the line of a wall (W1; 0.5 × 1.5 × 15.0 m) oriented northeast–southwest. The wall, founded on bedrock, was built of two rows of medium fieldstones with a core of small stones. Stones to the west of the wall (Loci 2, 10) were part of the wall’s collapse. A level of packed stones (L13), which may be the remains of a floor, was exposed in the northern part of the wall. Worn potsherds dating to the Early Hellenistic period were recovered from the fill. It was impossible to determine whether these were the remains of a building or a wall/terrace.