Area A
The excavation was conducted on the southeastern slope of the site. In the wake of inspection work five locations that required excavation were noted.

 

Water Cistern (map ref. NIG 19526/65248; OIG 14526/15248). The cistern's southern wall was destroyed during the development work and its ceiling had already collapsed in antiquity and sealed the contents. The cistern contained soil, small stones, human bones, as well as pottery vessels, small finds and flint tools.

 

Cave Dwelling (map ref. NIG 19526/65250; OIG 14526/15250). The cave's southern wall was damaged during development works. Safety reasons precluded the excavation of the cave; only three pottery vessels were removed from it, dating to the Ottoman period. The anteroom of the cave had previously been excavated by an expedition from Tel Aviv University (ESI 19).

 

Potsherd Cluster (map ref. NIG 19526/65250; OIG 14526/15250). An excavation area (1.8 × 2.0 m) was opened southwest of the cave dwelling; modern fill was discovered on top of a potsherd cluster that was lying on bedrock. The potsherds were probably debris from previous excavations.

 

Loculi Cave (map ref. NIG 19522/65248; OIG 14522/15248). Some 30 m south of the water cistern and cave dwelling a loculi cave that had been excavated by an expedition from Tel Aviv University was re-exposed, using mechanical equipment, and measured.

 

Section (map ref. NIG 19517–20/65236–8; OIG 14517–20/15236–8). A section (length 25 m, width 2 m, depth 2.8–3.1 m), cut by mechanical equipment, 100.5 m south of the loculi cave,  included eight strata.
1. Surface level (0.9 m) of hard brown mud, containing a few fragments of pottery vessels from the Byzantine, Roman and Hellenistic periods.
2. Small stones (0.15–0.20 m).
3. Light brown sandy soil that contained pottery fragments from the Hellenistic period, animal bones and numerous charcoal flakes (0.3–0.4 m).
4. River pebbles and gravel (0.25–0.35 m).
5. Grayish-brown soil with small Iron Age II pottery fragments (0.24–0.28 m).
6. Small stones and a some potsherds (0.1–0.2 m).
7. Soft light brown soil with numerous small and medium-sized stones (0.70–0.85 m). The remains of a wall built of large fieldstones were discerned c. 4.5 m from the northeastern end of the trench. This layer included fragments of pottery vessels from the Early Bronze Age, flint flakes and animal bones.
8. Hard terra rosa soil (0.30–0.35 m).

 

Area B (map ref. NIG 19579–80/65279–80; OIG 14579–80/15279–80).
Two locations that were thought to be caves and a concentration of potsherds along a bedrock cliff were investigated. It was ascertained that the northernmost cavity was natural and the other cavity was probably blasted open as a result of bedrock detonation. The potsherd concentration was swept over from the site at the top of the hill.