During July 2003, a trial excavation was conducted at 24 Giborē Yisrael Street in the Nahalat Yehuda neighborhood of Rishon Le-Ziyyon (Permit No. A-3937; map ref. NIG 182208–42/655097–108; OIG 132208–42/155097–108), following the discovery of ancient remains in a lot slated for construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by S. Avraham, was directed by D. Barkan, with the assistance of E. Bachar (administration), A. Hajian (surveying), A. Glick (GPS), T. Sagiv (field photography), Y. Elisha (preliminary inspections), P. Gendelman (pottery consultation), D.T. Ariel (numismatics) and E. Ayash, M. Ajami and E. Yannai.
Building remains and burial caves that dated to the Roman period had been excavated at the site in the past (HA 4:15, HA 40:13 [Hebrew]). The current excavation was conducted c. 100 m west of the Bet Dagan–Rishon Le-Ziyyon road (Highway 412). Mechanical equipment was used to remove ground level down to the elevation of the tops of the walls. Three half squares were opened, revealing building remains that dated to the Roman period (first–second centuries CE).
Square A (Fig. 1)
Two walls (W1, W2; width 0.6 m), preserved four courses high, were exposed. The walls were built of two rows of indigenous kurkar stones, most of them dressed. An earlier wall (W6; width 0.7 m), built of medium-sized fieldstones and preserved a single course high, was discovered along the line of and below W1.
A coin that dates to the reign of Hadrian (117–135 CE; IAA 97904) and was struck in the mint of Caesarea was found on the surface.
Square B
Walls of medium-sized fieldstones (W3, W4; width 0.5–0.6 m) that formed a corner (L108) were exposed c. 8 m northeast of Square A. A number of flat stones (length 0.30–0.35 m), probably part of a floor, were found c. 0.5 m northeast of W4.
A copper coin of Domitian (81–96 CE; IAA 97905), minted in Caesarea, was found north of W4.
Square C
A wall built of small and medium fieldstones and preserved a single course high was exposed (W5; width 0.6 m).
The ceramic finds were dated to the Roman period (first–second centuries CE) and included locally produced bowls (Fig. 2:1–3), cooking pots (Fig. 2:4, 5) and bag-shaped jars (Fig. 2:6–11). A worn fragment of a stone cup that resembles a measuring cup (Fig. 2:12) and is dated to the first century–beginning of the second century CE, was also found. Other finds included two jar rims (Fig. 2:13, 14) from the Hellenistic period (fourth–third centuries BCE), which were apparently swept to the site, and two potsherds that dated to the Fatimid period (eleventh century CE) were found on surface.
The pottery assemblage and coins date the site to the Roman period—the years between the Great Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt. It seems that the site was inhabited for only a short duration.