A probe conducted in the southeastern quarter of Square A exposed layers of alluvium that contained a krater from the Persian period (Fig. 2:2), a buff-ware jug (Fig. 2:5) and a Northern-type Islamic jar (Fig. 2:6). Beneath these layers was a compact alluvial stratum that contained small kurkar stones (L116; thickness 0.23 m) and ceramic finds, including a mortarium from the Persian period (Fig. 2:1), a bag-shaped storage jar of the Byzantine period (Fig. 2:3) and a buff-ware type jug (Fig. 2:4), as well as twelve coins.

The surface layer contained modern refuse mixed with Marseilles rooftiles, fragments of Gaza Ware, pipe fragments, the top of a nargila and a coin. Two walls were revealed below it. Wall 105 (Square A), oriented southeast–northwest  (0.55 × 1.75 m) was survived by three courses of its fieldstone-built foundation. Wall 111 (Square G), aligned in a similar direction (0.70 × 2.90 m), was survived by six of its courses. The foundation courses were built of roughly-hewn kurkar slabs (0.15 × 0.32 × 0.40 m) while its upper courses were of kurkar stones (0.10 × 0.20 × 0.25 m). The pottery finds included bowls (Fig. 2:7, 8) and a cooking pot (Fig. 2:9).

During the excavation thirteen coins were discovered, ten of which were identified: two were from the second century BCE and the rest from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods (mid fourth century–mid eighth century CE).
 

No.

Ruler

Mint

Date

Locus

IAA No.

1

Antiochus IV

‘Akko

175–164 BCE

116

102294

2

John Hyrcanus?

Jerusalem

129–105 BCE

116

102289

3

Constans I

 

341–346 CE

116

102293

4

Marcian

 

450–457 CE

116 102287

5

Justinian I

Carthage

mid-6th century CE

116

102295

6

Justin II

Constantinople

569/70 CE

116

102291

7

Maurice

Antioch

591/2 CE

116

102292

8

Maurice

Constantinople

601/2 CE

116

102288

9

Heraclius I

Thessalonica

614/5 CE

116

102290

10

Umayyad (post reform)

 

697–750 CE

99 (surface level)

102286