The Northern Cave was relatively large (c. 16 m across at the entrance, c. 12 m deep; Fig. 4). Two probes were dug inside the cave: in the center and at its northern end. A layer of brown soil, animal dung and ash containing potsherds from the Ottoman period mixed with modern finds: two bowls, one of Gaza Ware (Fig. 5:1) and the other probably earlier (Fig. 5:2), and a tobacco-pipe fragment (Fig. 5:4) from the late nineteenth – early twentieth century CE, when the cave was probably frequented by shepherds. Below this level was a layer of soil (c. 1 m thick) containing stones that had collapsed from the cave’s ceiling. A few potsherds, including a jar (Fig. 5:3) from the Mamluk and early Ottoman periods, as well as non-diagnostic flint artifacts, among them flake cores (Fig. 6:1, 2), were found in this stratum. Mechanical equipment was employed to dig down to the bedrock, but no other finds were discovered.
 
The Southern Cave is relatively small (c. 6 m across at the entrance, c. 5 m deep; Fig. 7), although it was obviously larger in the past, before it collapsed. Collapsed rocks from the roof were cleared with mechanical equipment, exposing a level of brown soil containing non-diagnostic potsherds. Below this level was an accumulation of soil and additional collapsed rocks from the roof (c. 0.5 m thick), which covered the bedrock.
 
The caves were probably used during the Ottoman period or even as early as the late Mamluk period, possibly as a shelter for shepherds from the city of Ramla and the nearby villages. The flint items may indicate an earlier use of the caves, but they are not indicative and were not found in situ.