During May 2012, a trial excavation was conducted west of Yoqne‘am (Permit No. A-6477; map ref. 209620–938/729373–657), prior to development. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Cross-Israel Highway Company Ltd., was directed by A. Massarwa (field photography), with the assistance of Y. Amrani (administration), R. Mishayev and M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), A. Gorzalczany (guidance), E. Oren, C. Sa‘id and L. Talmi.
The outpost included an elongated room (L101; 4.5×9.5 m, depth 2 m), reached by way of three rock-cut steps (width 1 m; Fig. 3) along a curved route from the northwest. An opening (L104; width 1 m) hewn in the southwestern side of Room 101 led to a long trench (L103, L106, L107; length 17 m, width 1 m, depth 1.5 m; Fig. 4) that sloped to the south in conformance with the incline of the bedrock. This trench split into two, a short trench that led to a circular room (L105; diam. 2.5 m, depth 1.5 m) and a longer one (L109, L110; length 11.5 m, width 1 m, depth 1.5 m) that led eastward to another room (L112; 2.0×2.5 m). Hand grenades discovered in the excavation area were turned over to the police bomb disposal unit.