In June 2014, a trial excavation was conducted in Kafr Kanna (Permit No. A-7160; map ref. 231688–741/739216–62), prior to construction. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by F. Abu Zedan (photography), with the assistance of Y. Ya‘aqobi (administration).
The excavation was conducted on the southeastern fringes of the Karm er-Ras antiquities site (Fig. 1), where numerous excavations were carried out in the past, and remains of an ancient settlement dating from the Iron Age to the Byzantine period were exposed (
Alexandre 2008).
A single square (4 × 5 m) was opened, three strata (I–III; Fig. 2) were identified, and a few fragments of pottery dating to the Roman period were revealed.
Stratum I, the upper layer, was of gray-brown soil (thickness c. 1.8 m). A small number of worn, non-diagnostic poterry sherds were found in it. Stratum II (thickness 0.4–0.5 m) was alluvium soil with abraded fieldstones of various sizes. A small quantity of pottery sherds dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods (first–sixth centuries CE) were mixed with the stones. Stratum III, directly over the bedrock, consisted of sterile reddish dark-brown clay (thickness 0.3–0.4 m). Since no architectural remains were identified in the excavation, it seems that the ancient settlement situated at Karm er-Ras did not extend to this area. Stratum II was probably alluvium from the settlement that was located on the hill west of the excavation area.