In February and March 2017, a trial excavation was conducted in the northern part of Kibbutz Sha‘ar Ha-‘Amaqim (Permit No. A-7937; map. ref. 21079/73680), prior to construction. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the kibbutz, was directed by H. Torgë., with the assistance of Y. Amrani and E. Bachar (administration), A. Peretz (photography), R. Liran, V. Asman and Y. Shmidov (surveying and drafting) and M. Shuiskaya (pottery drawing).
Squares 1–3, situated on a high terrace on the hill, revealedchisel marks, a cupmark and fieldstones of various sizes, which had been swept into the site (L101–L103). In Sq 4, the northernmost square, were the remains of a tamped-earth surface (L104), on which were a few fragments of pottery vessels. These included a jar handle bearing a seal impression dated to the Hellenistic period (Fig. 3:1), as well as a casserole (Fig. 3:2), a cooking pot (Fig. 3:4) and jars (Fig. 3:5,6) dated to the Early Roman period. Under Surface 104 were remains of a wall foundation (W108), consisting of two rows of stone. No flooring was found abutting this wall, and therefore it seems that this was a terrace wall. Beside this wall (L109) were fragments of pottery vessels, including a cooking pot (Fig. 3:3) and a lamp (Fig. 3:7), which date the wall to the Early Roman period (first–second centuries CE). In Sq 5 were abraded stones (L105), and in Sq 6 were quarrying remains: evidence of the detachment of two stones (L107).
The pottery discovered in the excavation, which was mostly abraded, was dated to the Persian, early Hellenistic and Early and Late Roman periods. It appears that these potsherds originated in a settlement at the top of the hill—most of which has not been excavated—and that they were swept into the excavation area on the outskirts of this settlement.
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Kirzner D. 2014b. Sha‘ar Ha-‘Amaqim (B). HA-ESI 126.
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Sa‘id A. 2015. Sha‘ar Ha-‘Amaqim (North). HA-ESI 127.
Segal A., Młynarczyk J. and Burdajewicz M. 2009. Excavations of the Hellenistic Site in Kibbutz Sha‘ar Ha-‘Amakim (Gaba) (1984–1988): Final Report. Haifa (Hebrew).